A fingerprint left by a suspect during a robbery of a jewelry store last November led to the arrest of the 21-year-old suspect on Thursday, May 21.
This story began back on Nov. 21, 2014 when the owner of a jewelry store, located on the Third Street Promenade, reported the theft of a Breitling watch on that day.
The owner stated at the time that an African American man, wearing a red shirt, blue jeans, a red hat and red shoes, had entered the store and leaned up against the display case that stored Breitling watches and other bling.
The owner added that the man had asked to see one of the watches and had then asked to examine a second Breitling timepiece.
After the owner had removed the second chronograph the man had suddenly grabbed it and rushed out of the store.
The owner had told the officers that the man ran southbound on Third Street Promenade and disappeared out of sight.
Later that day the officers obtained video surveillance footage of the incident and forensics experts had obtained a fingerprint impression from the display case, and these were used to identify the suspect.
On Thursday, May 21, Santa Monica detectives, armed with search and best replica watches arrest warrants located the suspect and took him into custody.
The detectives also took possession of the clothing allegedly worn at the time of the crime as well as evidence of other thefts and robberies.
The detectives are currently working with law enforcement agencies from other jurisdictions as several other crimes are being investigated involving this Los Angeles resident.
After this man was charged with grand theft he was released pending bail of $20,000.
Editor’s Note: These reports are part of a regular police coverage series entitled “Alert Police Blotter” (APB), which injects some minor editorial into certain police activities in Santa Monica. Not all of The Mirror’s coverage of incidents involving police are portrayed in this manner. More serious crimes and police-related activities are regularly reported without editorial in the pages of the Santa Monica Mirror and its website, smmirror.com.
