By Tim Broughton
I’ll Be Back
On Saturday, February 11, at 4:57 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica
Police Department were called out to the 900 block of Fifth Street in
order to investigate a report of a vehicle burglary in progress. As the
officers were en route to the location they were told by dispatch that
the suspect had been last seen exiting the victim’s vehicle and
fleeing the scene. The officers also learned that the victim had earlier
heard a sound coming from outside and looked out of a window,
spotting the suspect inside the rear of the victim’s car. The victim
had activated the car alarm by way of a button installed on the key
fob, and it was this noise that had urged the suspect run away. The
victim’s spouse had then inspected the car in order to see if any
property had been stolen and discovered that one of the car’s
windows had been smashed. The officers arrived at the scene and,
somewhat strangely, the suspect returned to the scene a few
moments later. The suspect then admitted to the police to have
smashed the car window. The officers took this 22-year- old Santa
Monica Resident into custody and he was charged with vehicle
tampering and vandalism. He was released after being issued with a
citation.
He Broke The Code.
On Sunday, February 12, at 3:00 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica
Police Department were on routine patrol in the area of the 1200
block of Alley Number Four when they spotted a man rummaging
through, and removing recyclable items from a Santa Monica City
Recycling Container. The officers, being mindful that such an act is
in contravention of Santa Monica Municipal Code Number 5.08.320,
stopped this individual in order to issue him with a citation for the
crime. The officers interviewed this man in order to obtain some
information required to issue the citation and in doing so discovered
(via their police technology) that this man had an outstanding
$50,000 for his arrest. This man was immediately placed into
handcuffs and taken to jail where he was later charged with the
outstanding warrant as well as theft of recyclables. Bail for this 57-
year-old homeless man was set at $50,500.
Fruitless Attempt At Apple Store.
On Tuesday, February 14, at 12:41 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica
Police Department responded to a radio call informing them that
staff at The Apple Store, located at 1415 Third Street Promenade,
were detaining a man suspected of attempting to steal goods to the
value of $199.95. The officers rushed to the scene and were met by
the Apple Store Loss Prevention team. The Loss Prevention Team
members told the officers that this suspect had entered the store and
attracted their attention because he was carrying an unfeasibly large
number of shopping bags in addition to having numerous items of
clothing draped over his body. The Loss Prevention Team Members
said that this man was seen to walk around the store and put items of
merchandise into the shopping bags before exiting the store without
paying for said goods. The Loss Prevention Team had at that point
sprung into action and apprehended the suspect before returning
with him to the store. The merchandise was the recovered from the
shopping bags and the police summoned. The officers arrested this
26-year- old Santa Monica resident and he was charged with theft.
Bail was set at $500.
Exchange For Nothing.
On Thursday, February 16, at 2:20 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica
Police Department were summoned to attend the Armani Exchange
clothing store, located at 1322 Third Street Promenade, in order to
investigate a report of theft that had just occurred. When the officers
arrived at Armani Exchange they spoke with the staff who said that
the suspect had exited the store but had been seen entering another
store nearby, so equipped with a detailed description of the suspect
the officers went to that store. The officers immediately found the
suspect and marched him back to Armani Exchange to question him.
The officers determined that this man had been seen by another
customer to have placed merchandise into his backpack and exit the
store without paying for the merchandise. The customer had
informed staff members of this and the staff members had spotted
the suspect entering the adjacent store. The officers reviewed the
CCTV footage and saw for themselves that this man had indeed
taken some clothing from the store and concealed it inside his
backpack. The suspect was searched and the merchandise, valued at
$448 was recovered. This 49-year- old homeless man was arrested
and charged with shoplifting from Armani Exchange. Bail was set at
$5,000.
