Hermosa Beach Crime Reports for 2002

BUSINESS BURGLARY. A business in the 1200 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly vandalized between 5 p.m. Dec. 31 and 10:30 a.m. Jan. 2. The vandal etched letters and numbers into a glass window. The damage is estimated at $1,500.

PURSE THEFT. A purse was reportedly stolen from a bar located on the pier plaza Dec. 31 at 1:40 a.m. The victim set her purse down on the bar counter to dance with her friends and returned minutes later to find it missing. The victim later found the purse at 1:55 a.m. and the thief had stolen her wallet, credit cards and two cellular phones worth $700.

PURSE THEFT. A purse was reportedly stolen from a bar patio on the pier plaza Dec. 14 at 1:45 a.m. The victim was sitting outside on the bar's patio when two men approached her. The men both have heavy Italian accents. The woman turned away for a moment, and both the men and her purse were gone. The doorman later found it but the suspects had stolen two bracelets and a cellular phone, all worth $550.

CONVERTIBLE TOP CUT. An unknown person reportedly cut the top of a convertible 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse parked in the 800 block of 19th Street Dec. 19 between midnight and 6:30 a.m. The victim parked his car in his girlfriend's driveway. Nothing was taken from the car.

CAR BURGLARY. A 1990 Mitsubishi Montero parked in the 1200 block of Ninth Street was reportedly burglarized Dec. 14 between 7:45 and 9 a.m. The burglar stole a pair of board shorts and money both totaling $90.

The Beach Reporter – January 9, 2003

Crime Watch (1/9) - Hermosa Beach

2002 KNOCKOUT. A man reportedly hit another man in the face with a closed fist, knocking him unconscious in the 200 block of Pier Avenue Dec. 28 at 2:13 a.m. According to police, the man and his friend were walking east on Pier Avenue from the downtown area. The victim's friend stopped to talk to a friend as the victim kept on walking. Two men approached him and one of the men hit him. The man suffered a cut above his swollen right eye.

JEWELRY BURGLARY. A home in Hermosa Beach was reportedly burglarized between 3 p.m. Dec. 23 and 10:35 a.m. Dec. 27. According to police, the burglar may have broken into the home through the front door left unlocked. The suspect stole two watches, two necklaces, a 12-piece silver table setting and several other items all worth more than $2,400.

CAR BURGLARY. A 1998 Dodge Durango parked in the 2000 block of Monterey Boulevard was reportedly burglarized Dec. 29 between 12:30 and 3:45 a.m. According to police, the burglar smashed one of the car's windows and stole a golf bag filled with clubs worth about $1,200.

DOWNTOWN FIGHT. A man reportedly hit another man in the face near the corner of Pier and Hermosa avenues Dec. 24 at 2 a.m. According to a witness, the victim said something to the suspect that may have offended him who then hit the victim knocking him to the ground. Paramedics advised the victim to go to the hospital because he might have had a concussion but he refused medical attention.

DOWNTOWN MAYHEM. A man was arrested in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue for damaging a police car and refusing to disperse during a riot Dec. 29 at 1:20 a.m. According to police, the man was in custody for failing to disperse at the scene of a riot and damaged a patrol car window while being detained in the back seat. He ignored police orders and remained involved in a fight consisting of more than 30 people.

The Beach Reporter – January 3, 2003

Crime Watch (1/3) - Hermosa Beach

CAR THEFT. A car parked on 31st Place was reportedly burglarized between the hours of noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 13. The burglar entered the unlocked vehicle and stole several items inside.

IDENTITY THEFT. An unknown person used a credit card of a resident living in the 700 block of 24th Street to buy merchandise inside several retail stores Dec. 17. The victim told police the card was never stolen or lost and so officers believe the suspect must have used a fake duplicate to purchase goods illegally.

TERRORIST THREATS. A man reportedly made threatening phone calls to a couple living in the 1800 block of Pacific Coast Highway since June of this year. The incidents were reported Dec. 16. Both victims know the suspect and claim he suffers from schizophrenia. The suspect last called the victims Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. and threatened to kill them.

SHED BURGLARY. A locked shed sitting in an underground parking garage in the 100 block of Herondo Street was reportedly burglarized Dec. 12 between 6 and 10:30 p.m. The burglar used bolt cutters to break into the shed and steal a freestanding house fan.

The Beach Reporter – December 27, 2002

Crime Watch (12/27) - Hermosa Beach

PCH BURGLARY. Two computer monitors were reportedly stolen out of a business in the 2200 block of Pacific Coast Highway between 2 p.m. Dec. 12 and 9 a.m. Dec. 13. According to police, the burglar broke into the business and stole the new monitors still packed in their boxes. The total loss is more than $1,300.

GARAGE BURGLARY. A garage in the first block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized Dec. 17 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. The victim had stored several Christmas gifts in the garage. The burglar stole golf clubs, a bike and electronic equipment worth an estimated $4,900.

HERMOSA AVENUE VANDALISM. A business in the 1200 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly vandalized between 7 p.m. Dec. 22 and 10 a.m. Dec. 23. The vandal used a sharp object to write graffiti into two storefront glass windows.

BEER THEFT. Three men reportedly stole a 20-pack of beer from a convenience store in the 400 block of Pacific Coast Highway Dec. 22 at 2:02 a.m. According to police, one of the suspects bought a pack of beer at 1:58 a.m. He then returned with two other men and attempted to buy another pack. The employee told them they couldn't because it was after 2 a.m. The men broke into the alcohol cooler, which is locked after 2 a.m., and walked out with the beer.

CAR BURGLARY. A 1999 Ford Explorer was reportedly burglarized in the 500 block of Gentry Street between Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 8 a.m. The victim told police he parked the car in his driveway and returned to find his car had been burglarized. The burglar stole a laptop computer, a cell phone and other items totaling $3,500. Police noticed no forced entry into the car that is protected by an alarm. The victim told police the car was ransacked but had been cleaned by the time officers arrived.

The Beach Reporter – December 19, 2002

Crime Watch (12/19) - Hermosa Beach

BURGLARY. A man's ATM card and checkbook were reportedly stolen from his business in the 1500 block of Pacific Coast Highway Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. The victim reported the crime Dec. 11 The suspect showed up at the business asking the victim if he could see some properties located near The Strand. The victim thought the suspect was suspicious and wrote down the license plate number of his car. The victim later discovered his ATM card and checkbook missing. The victim bought gas with the card in Torrance and attempted to put a down payment on a property in Ventura County for $20,000 using one of the victim's checks. The car the suspect was driving had been reported stolen in San Diego

ARSON. A portion of a mobile home located in the 500 block of Pier Avenue was reportedly burned Dec. 14. The victim told police he was inside the home playing video games when he heard a large explosion and the home began to shake. The victim ran outside and saw a portion of the home on fire. He attempted to put out the fire with a garden hose but failed. He filled up a trash can with water and finally put out the fire. He then called the Fire Department.

GRAND THEFT. A 1991 GMC Jimmy was reportedly burglarized in the 700 block of Gould Avenue Dec. 11 between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. Police believe the burglar broke into the car through an unlocked door and stole a camera, numerous CDs and money. Items stolen are worth close to $890.

TOOTH AND CHEEK. Police arrested a man in the 500 block of Pier Avenue for reportedly biting another man in the cheek Dec. 1 at 10:13 p.m. According to police, the two men are neighbors and have been involved in an ongoing dispute. The suspect asked the victim to turn down the volume of the music in his home. He then began yelling at him and challenged him to a fight. The two men began fighting and wrestled each other to the ground. The suspect then bit the victim in the cheek, ripping off a piece of skin from his face.

CAR BURGLARY. A 2002 Toyota 4-Runner parked in a public parking lot next to pier plaza was reportedly burglarized between 9 p.m. Dec. 9 and 2 a.m. Dec. 10. According to police, the burglar broke into the car through an unlocked door and stole a case of CDs worth $350.

The Beach Reporter – December 12, 2002

Crime Watch (12/12) - Hermosa Beach

DOWNTOWN FIGHT. A man reportedly assaulted two women near the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue Nov. 28 at 2:04 a.m. According to police, the man approached the two women who attempted to avoid him. The man then hit one of the women in the eye with his fist and pushed the other to the ground. As he pushed the second woman, the first woman tried to help her friend and the man bit her on the thumb.

GARAGE BURGLARY. A garage in the 200 block of Manhattan Avenue was reportedly burglarized between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30. According to police, the burglar stole a bag filled with diving equipment and a dive tank.

LATE NIGHT FIGHT. A man was reportedly assaulted by a group of men in the 200 block of 10th Street Dec. 7 at 2:10 a.m. The victim told police he left a local pizza place and began walking to his friend's house when a group of men began to follow him. The group of men exchanged words with the victim and challenged him to a fight. One man then hit the victim in the face with a closed fist, knocking him to the ground. The other men began hitting the victim while he was on the ground. The victim fought back and the suspects fled the scene.

PURSE ROBBERY. A woman was reportedly robbed in the 600 block of Longfellow Avenue Dec. 6 at 5:20 p.m. The victim told police a white two-door car pulled up next to her while she was walking west on Longfellow Avenue. A man got out of the car, pulled out a silver handgun, hit her in the stomach with it and stole her purse.

CLOCKED BY OFFICER. A man challenging police to a fight and resisting arrest on the pier plaza was reportedly hit in the face by an officer Dec. 8 at 1:03 a.m. According to police, the man got into a fight inside a nearby bar and the doormen escorted him out onto the plaza. An officer saw the incident and approached the man. The man then challenged the officer to a fight and the officer tried pushing him away. The officer could not back up to avoid confrontation because of several people standing behind him. The officer tried to handcuff the man who then tried to break free. The officer hit the man who then became very cooperative. The man suffered a laceration above his eye.

The Beach Reporter – December 5, 2002

Crime Watch (12/5) - Hermosa Beach

KNIFE ASSAULT. A man was arrested for reportedly fighting another man with a knife in the 400 block of Pacific Coast Highway Nov. 26 at 12:22 a.m. The victim told police he and his two other friends got into a fight with two strangers in the parking lot of a nearby convenience store. One of the suspects pulled out a knife and cut the victim in the hand.

BAR ENCOUNTER. A doorman at a bar on the pier plaza reportedly got into a fight with a patron Nov. 26 at 1:25 a.m. The patron told police he watched as the doorman yelled at another patron. The patron thought the bar employee had violated the patron's rights and confronted him. The two men got into an argument and the victim told police the doorman grabbed him by the arm. The victim, who was argumentative at the time police took the report, told officers he had three drinks. Police said the patron was inconsistent in his story. The doorman told police the man was disruptive and he told him to leave. The doorman then took a drink out of his hand because it was closing time.

CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized Nov. 30 between the hours of 12:50 a.m. and 1:04 a.m. According to police, the burglar smashed the car's passenger side window and stole a purse, a pair of shoes, two skirts and a CD player.

GARAGE BURGLARY. A garage in the 200 block of 31st Street was reportedly burglarized between Nov. 20 and Nov. 22. Two surfboards, numerous CDs, a kit of power tools, shoes and a skateboard were stolen. The items were worth about $1,500.

DOWNTOWN BATTERY. A man reportedly hit a women in the back of the head several times with a closed fist near the corner of 13th Street and Hermosa Avenue Nov. 27 at 2:08 a.m. The suspect and his friends confronted the victim and her friends as they left a nearby bar. The victim and her friends attempted to avoid the suspect by walking back into the bar. The victim eventually left, and the suspect walked up behind her and hit her several times in the back of the head.

The Beach Reporter – November 27, 2002

Crime Watch (11/27) - Hermosa Beach

ANNOYING PHONE CALLS. A woman living in the 400 block of Second Street reportedly received several annoying phone calls Nov. 19 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. According to police, the caller made several derogatory statements about the woman's daughter in messages left on her answering machine.

IDENTITY THEFT. The personal information of a man living in the 500 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly used to purchase items from a computer company. The victim reported the crime Nov. 22 after receiving a phone call from the computer firm, Dell Inc., Nov. 13 to verify purchases made with the corporation totaling $6,500.

TERRORIST THREATS. A woman living in the first block of Fifth Street reportedly received threatening phone calls from a former boyfriend Nov. 17 between the hours of 2:44 and 11:50 p.m. According to police, the woman ended a six-month relationship with the suspect. He then called her and left a message telling her if she valued her life, she would call him back.

29TH COURT THEFT. Two men were arrested for reportedly stealing two bikes locked up in the 100 block of 29th Court Nov. 17 at 3:03 p.m. According to police, a witness saw the two men cut a cable which secured several bikes and steal two of them. The witness later identified the men who were taken into custody.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. An unknown person attempted to burglarize a business in the 800 block of Pacific Coast Highway between 7 p.m. Nov. 20 and 8 a.m. Nov. 21. A rooftop vent was reportedly damaged to allow a person to crawl into the business through the roof. The cost to fix the vent is $200.

The Beach Reporter – November 21, 2002

Crime Watch (11/21) - Hermosa Beach

21ST STREET IDENTITY THEFT. The personal information of a man living in the 700 block of 21st Street was reportedly used for the application of two credit card accounts at Best Buy and with Capital One Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. The victim told police he received a call from a representative at Best Buy regarding his recent purchases. The man told the representative he never bought anything at the store nor does he have a credit card with the store.

TIRES SLASHED. Four tires on a car were reportedly slashed on 11th Street between 7 p.m. Nov. 13 and 10 a.m. Nov. 14. The victim parked her car inside the garage in her reserved parking spot at her residence. A witness told police she saw a fellow neighbor crouched down near the car. The suspect looked surprised when he saw the witness and acted as though he was looking into a closed dumpster near the garage.

HERMOSA AVENUE THEFT. Several items inside a business in the 1200 block of Hermosa Avenue were reportedly stolen between 6:45 Nov. 10 and 8 a.m. Nov. 11. The victim told police she remembered seeing the stolen property on the desk before she locked the office and left for the evening. The next day she returned to find the items missing.

HERMOSA AVENUE VANDALISM. Several windows from a 2002 Infinity parked in the 300 block of Hermosa Avenue were reportedly smashed Nov. 11 between 5:47 and 5:58 p.m. According to police, a witness heard a smash and ran down to the scene. He noticed a man in a baseball cap walking toward a Nissan ZX with the "Club" in his hand. Police arrived at the scene and stopped the suspect in the baseball cap. Police found the Club in the car. The owner of the car broke up with the suspect a month ago. The suspect attempted to get back together with her but she refused.

FRAUD. The personal information of a resident living on Second Street was reportedly used to fraudulently purchase items at two major retail stores Nov. 7 at 5:13 p.m. The victim received a call from his credit card company, MBNA. An unknown person used the victim's credit card to purchase $569 worth of items at Wal-Mart and $554 at Mervyn's.

The Beach Reporter – November 14, 2002

Crime Watch (11/14) - Hermosa Beach

FORGERY. An unknown person reportedly used a check to withdraw $87,000 from a bank account of a couple living on Manhattan Avenue Oct. 21. According to police, the victims had an equity line of credit with Washington Mutual for $125,000 and discovered the theft after a representative detected some suspicious activity with the withdrawal and contacted the victims to verify the transaction.

HERMOSA AVENUE BATTERY. A man was arrested for reportedly getting out of a taxi cab without paying in the 200 block of Hermosa Avenue Nov. 6 at 11:41 p.m. and assaulting the cab driver while intoxicated. According to police, the victim picked up the suspect and dropped him off at his friend's house. The suspect refused to pay the victim and the victim followed him. The suspect then hit the driver, knocking out a tooth. The driver called police and the man, whom police believe was intoxicated, was arrested.

IDENTITY THEFT. An unknown person used the private information of a man living on Pacific Coast Highway to access his checking account between Oct. 28 and 29. The victim reported the crime Nov. 6 after visiting the ATM machine and noticing a decline in his bank balance. The victim visited the bank and discovered two transactions where the suspect paid two cellular phone companies totaling more than $1,100.

OBSTRUCTING A PEACE OFFICER. A woman living at 531 Pier Ave. was arrested for pushing a police officer Oct. 26 at 5:50 p.m. Two officers were dispatched to the mobile home park after the suspect's neighbor called police because the suspect refused to stop taking pictures of the victim's daughter. Police approached the suspect who refused to talk to them. She then ran into her house and locked the door. Inside, she called 911 and told the operator she wanted to talk to the chief of police. She came outside 15 seconds later with a tape recorder and told the officers she wanted to record the conversation. Officers convinced her to hang up the phone and she did. The woman then pushed one of the officer's arms to get by. The officer then warned her if she touched him again, she would be arrested. The woman then pushed him and police arrested her.

PCH BURGLARY. A burglar reportedly stole three laptop computers between 8 p.m. Nov. 4 and 8 a.m. Nov. 5 from a real estate company in the 2600 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Police noticed no forced entry into the building and employees told police the alarm was not set when they arrived the next morning.

The Beach Reporter – November 7, 2002

Crime Watch (11/7) - Hermosa Beach

Burglary. A house located in the 3000 block of Tennyson Place was reportedly burglarized between 7 a.m. Oct. 17 and 11 p.m. Oct. 26. According to police, the burglar broke into the home through a sliding glass door. The owners returned home to find their house ransacked. The burglar stole a laptop computer, a briefcase, some currency and four watches, all totaling about $1,300.

Tequila Theft. A man was arrested for allegedly stealing a bottle of tequila from a grocery store in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway Oct. 18 at 1:21 a.m. According to police, the store employee recognized the man as someone who has stolen items in the past and called police. The man walked up to the register, threw a packet of Koolaid on the counter and left the store. Police later stopped the man and found a bottle of tequila in his car.

Plymouth Burglary. A 1990 Plymouth Laser parked in the 2700 block of Morningside Drive was reportedly burglarized between 9 p.m. Oct. 30 and 8:50 a.m. Oct. 31. The burglar smashed the front passenger car window, and stole numerous CDs and the car stereo worth about $450.

Tahoe Burglary. A 2001 Chevy Tahoe parked in a garage located in the 1900 block of Bayview Drive was reportedly burglarized between 9:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and 8:15 a.m. Oct. 31. The burglar smashed the front passenger window and stole a car seat worth $500.

Toyota Burglary. A 1987 Toyota parked in the 3200 block of Highland Avenue was reportedly burglarized Oct. 30 between the hours of 1 and 10 a.m. The burglar used a Slim Jim to break into the car and steal a $1,500 Fender Telecaster guitar. The man returned to his car to find the front passenger door open.

The Beach Reporter – October 31, 2002

Crime Watch (10/31) - Hermosa Beach

ASSAULT. A man living on Ninth Street was arrested for reportedly hitting his female roommate and her male friend in the face with a closed fist Oct. 24 at 11:10 p.m. The suspect got into a fight with the victim, walked into her room and hit her. The victim's friend attempted to intervene and the suspect then hit him.

GRAND THEFT. A 1984 Mercedes 380SE parked in a repair shop in the 700 block of Fifth Street was reportedly burglarized between Oct. 10 and 25. According to police, the burglar climbed the fence to the business, broke into the car and stole a stereo, a pair of sunglasses and $30 in cash. This burglary is the latest in a series of car thefts at the business, according to police.

DEADLY WEAPON. A woman reportedly hit another woman in the forehead with a beer bottle in a bar on the pier plaza Oct. 11 between 11:45 and 11:53 p.m. The victim told police the suspect struck her in the head as she tried to pass her on the dance floor. Paramedics transported the victim, who was bleeding from the head, to a nearby hospital.

CRIMINAL THREATS. A man reportedly called another man living in the 400 block of Herondo Street and threatened to kill him Oct. 16 at 10:30 a.m. The victim told police he borrowed $30,000 in July from the suspect to help his failing business. The victim closed his business in August, and the suspect called him and asked him for the money. The victim told the suspect he filed for bankruptcy and would pay him back as soon as he could. The suspect said he wanted the money or he would kill the victim.

BURGLARY. Two men dressed in black reportedly stole four bottles of cognac from a grocery store located in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway Oct. 17 at 1:52 p.m. According to witnesses, the men entered the store and walked around the liquor section for a few minutes before stealing the bottles. They left the store and jumped into a green Ford Expedition.

The Beach Reporter – October 24, 2002

Crime Watch (10/24) - Hermosa Beach

PETTY THEFT. A car stereo was reportedly stolen from a car parked in the 700 block of Fifth Street Oct. 14 between 5:15 and 6 a.m. According to police, the burglar broke into the car through the driver's side rear door.

IDENTITY THEFT. An unknown person reportedly tried to open a credit card account using the personal information of a man living in Hermosa Beach Oct. 12. According to police, the suspect applied for a Capital One credit card via the Internet. The company sent the victim a confirmation letter when the addresses on the application and the victim's home didn't match.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. A unknown person attempted to burglarize a house located in the 1100 block of Prospect Avenue Oct. 12 between 4 p.m. and midnight. The victim told police she left her home and returned to find the screen to her sliding glass door was open. She also noticed her backyard gate open. Officers noticed pry marks on the outside of the glass door and believe the suspect attempted to break into the house by trying to pry open the door.

GRAND THEFT. Two surfboards and one skateboard were reportedly stolen from a patio in the 2300 block of Hermosa Avenue Oct. 14 between 10:30 a.m. and 7:40 p.m. According to police, the burglar stole all three items worth approximately $1,100.

IDENTITY THEFT. The personal information of a man living in the 900 block of Fifth Street was stolen to open up a Pacbell wireless service account between February and May of 2001. The victim received a collection notice in the amount of $2,084. The man filed a report with police Oct. 15 and told officers he never opened an account with the company.

The Beach Reporter – October 17, 2002

Crime Watch (10/17) - Hermosa Beach

BREAKING AND ENTERING. A man was arrested for reportedly breaking into a house in the 3300 block of The Strand Oct. 9 at 1:37 p.m. According to police, the victim saw the suspect inside her home as she was inline skating along The Strand. The suspect had pulled up the blinds and was standing in her house at the time the victim skated past him. She noticed that the suspect was wearing only his underwear, a T-shirt and a hat. The suspect crouched behind a wall and began crawling up the stairs. The woman then called police from a neighbor's home.

GRAND THEFT. A man was arrested for reportedly stealing six DVDs from a grocery store in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway Oct. 9 at 6:41 p.m. A store employee called police and followed the man out to his car. Police found the six DVDs and three additional ones which had been stolen from another store.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. A man attempted to burglarize a home in the 400 block of Monterey Boulevard Oct. 6 between 2 and 3 a.m. A neighbor awoke to the victim's dog barking, looked out her window, and noticed a man standing outside the house. The victim came home to find that a screen from one of her windows had been partially removed.

RING THEFT. Two rings were reportedly stolen from a house located in the 2400 block of Myrtle Avenue Oct. 7 between 8:30 and 10 a.m. According to police, the victim's husband allowed two movers into his home to remove a large television. The movers had to take the television out of the master bedroom. The victim believes the movers stole the two rings which were sitting on her night stand in the master bedroom.

BIKE THEFT. A bike worth $500 was reportedly stolen from a parking garage in the 1400 block of Hermosa Avenue between 8:30 p.m. Oct. 4 and 2:45 a.m. Oct. 5. The victim told police she kept the bike unsecured in the secured private parking garage.

The Beach Reporter – October 10, 2002

Crime Watch (10/10) - Hermosa Beach

CAR BURGLARY. A 2002 white Infiniti Q35 sedan was reportedly burglarized in the 400 block of Herondo Street between Sept. 24 and 7 a.m. Sept. 25. The suspect smashed the car's rear window and stole several items inside.

GRAND THEFT. An open carport located in the 1100 block of Cypress Avenue was reportedly burglarized Sept. 29 between 1:15 and 9 a.m. The suspect stole numerous items, including a fish tank, a CD player, a walkman, clothing and jewelry, all underneath a tarp.

VANDALISM. Several walls and floors at Hermosa Valley School were reportedly vandalized with colored chalk Sept. 29. A police officer patrolling the area found the graffiti on a few walls on the campus and on nearby playground areas.

THREATS. A man reportedly threatened another man living in the 400 block of Monterey Boulevard Aug. 29 at 4:09 p.m. The man reported the crime one month later. According to police, the suspect visited the victim at his home and demanded that he pay him for a construction job or he would kill him. The victim noticed that the suspect was hiding a black metal object behind his back and believed it to be a gun. The suspect told the victim he had no money, he was living on the streets, his wife left him and his car had been repossessed. The victim told the man he would pay him as soon as he had the money.

FORGERY AND THEFT. Police discovered several stolen checks inside the pocket of a man who was arrested Sept. 16 in the 300 block of Eighth Street for an unrelated crime. According to police, the man stole the checks while working on a construction job at a new business located in the 900 block of Hermosa Avenue. All of the checks were blank with the exception of one written in the amount of $625. The "pay to the order" and signature lines were still blank. The business owner told police she had recently ordered checks from her bank but never received them. She had hired the suspect to do some handy work at the business.

The Beach Reporter – October 3, 2002

Crime Watch (10/3) - Hermosa Beach

BRASS KNUCKLES. A man reportedly hit another man in the head with brass knuckles in the 1200 block of Hermosa Avenue Sept. 20 at 12:54 a.m. The victim told officers that he walking along Hermosa Avenue with his friends when the suspect attacked him for no apparent reason. Police believe the suspect was wearing brass knuckles at the time.

CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in an underground parking garage in the 400 block of Second Street was reportedly burglarized between 9:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and 7:30 a.m. Sept. 17. According to police, the burglar pulled out the car's door lock to break into it. The burglar stole the car stereo and numerous CDs totaling $900.

OFFICE BURGLARY. More than $2,400 was reportedly stolen from a business in the 2700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard between 5 p.m. Sept. 15 and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 16. The office manager stored the money in the top drawer of a file cabinet and locked it. He discovered the money missing the next morning.

VANDALISM. An unknown person threw a glass bottle through a second-story window in the 1400 block of Hermosa Avenue Sept. 15 at 1:30 a.m. According to police, the victim awoke to a large noise and noticed shattered glass on her bedroom floor. The victim told police her former boyfriend had visited her home the day prior to the crime and yelled at her from the alley, threatening to kill her dog.

GATE VANDALISM. A man driving a 1999 Toyota Camry drove through the parking lot "A" gate near 11th Street and Hermosa Avenue without paying the attendant Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. According to police, the man lost his parking ticket stub and the attendant told him he had to pay $12 for a lost ticket. The suspect refused and told the attendant he would only pay for the time he was parked in the lot. The man then drove through the toll booth without paying, causing damage to the gate.

The Beach Reporter – September 26, 2002

Crime Watch (9/26) - Hermosa Beach

CAR BURGLARY. A 1998 Ford Mustang convertible parked in an underground parking lot in the 2400 block of Prospect Avenue was reportedly burglarized between 7 p.m. Sept. 9 and 8:20 a.m. Sept. 10. According to police, the burglar tore a 12-inch hole in the top of the car and stole a pair of golf clubs. Another convertible Mustang parked in the same underground garage was burglarized in the same way around the same date and time.

ATTEMPTED CAR THEFT. A 1992 Nissan 300SX parked in the 600 block of Porter Lane was reportedly damaged in a theft attempt between 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 and 7:15 p.m. Sept. 19. Police believe the burglar broke into the car and attempted to steal the car by trying to start the car's ignition with a flathead screwdriver inserted into the steering column. Police lifted and booked fingerprints into evidence.

CAR BURGLARY. A 1997 Nissan 200SX in the 1800 block of Pacific Coast Highway was reportedly burglarized between 11:40 p.m. Sept. 7 and 8:40 a.m. Sept. 8. According to police, the burglar stole a camera, a bag and wallet worth more than $1,500. The victim discovered her car ransacked and officers lifted fingerprints from the scene.

PALM DRIVE BURGLARY. A home in the 400 block of Palm Drive was reportedly burglarized Sept. 10 between 2 and 3 a.m. According to police, the victims awoke at 2 a.m. to their garage door opening. The victims thought it was one of their boyfriends. The victims heard the burglar rummaging around in the downstairs bedroom which they were using for storage. The next day, the victims found their property missing.

ANNOYING PHONE CALLS. An unknown person reportedly made dozens of phone calls each day to a woman living in the 1400 block of Hermosa Avenue from June of 1995 to September 2002. The suspect called the victim approximately 15 times a day for the past seven years. The victim told police the phone calls began after she broke up with her boyfriend. According to the victim, the former boyfriend was once arrested for stalking her a few years ago.

The Beach Reporter – September 19, 2002

Crime Watch (9/19) - Hermosa Beach

BATTERY. Police arrested a man who reportedly assaulted another man at a restaurant in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue Sept. 13 at 10:55 p.m. According to police, the doorman at the restaurant noticed a patron urinating on another patron sitting on the outside patio. The victim confronted the suspect who flipped a cigarette at him and challenged him to a fight. The suspect then hit the victim in the face with a closed fist.

BURGLARY. A home located in the 700 block of Eighth Place was reportedly burglarized between 9:30 p.m. Sept. 7 and 5 a.m. Sept. 8. The victim returned home, and his roommate told him the burglar broke a window in the middle of the night and stole a computer, two guitars and a mixing board worth $5,700.

CAR THEFT. A 1987 Toyota truck parked in the 2400 block of Prospect Street was reportedly burglarized between 10 p.m. Sept. 7 and 7:30 a.m. Sept. 8. The burglar broke into the unlocked car and stole a $300 stereo.

GOULD BURGLARY. A home in the 600 block of Gould Avenue was reportedly burglarized Sept. 9 at 7:12 a.m. The burglar also attempted to steal a car located at the residence. The victims parked their car in the garage and left it unlocked. The burglar broke into the car and damaged the ignition in an attempt to steal it. The victims told police they were asleep in bed when they heard their front door slam shut. The couple thought it was one of their sons and called out to them. They got no answer. One of the victims got up to investigate and chased after the burglar who stole the victim's purse.

MUSTANG BURGLARY. A 1998 Ford Mustang convertible parked in the 2400 block of Prospect Street was reportedly burglarized between 8:20 p.m. Sept. 9 and 8:30 a.m. Sept. 10. The burglar broke into the car by cutting the top of the car, and stole a CD case and a garage door opener. The cost of the items stolen and the damage to the car totals approximately $1,065.

The Beach Reporter – September 12, 2002

Crime Watch (9/12) - HERMOSA BEACH

HOME ALONE. Several items left inside a Hermosa Beach home located in the 2500 block of Ardmore Avenue were reportedly stolen between 8 p.m. Aug. 22 and midnight Aug. 23. According to police, the victim left several items in his living room and left his teen-age son home alone. Upon his return, the man noticed these items missing. He asked his son about them, who admitted to having a party while he was gone. The man believes one of his son's friends stole his laptop computer, a CD drive, a skateboard and a pair of sunglasses, totaling more than $2,450.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. An attempted burglary reportedly took place at a business located in the 500 block of Pier Avenue between Aug. 25 and 31. According to police, a maintenance worker found a backpack near the business's north-facing wall with a hacksaw and several other tools inside. He also observed a hole near the wall. Police concluded that an unknown person attempted to break into the business by digging a hole through the stucco wall. The owner believes it is the same person who burglarized the business several months earlier due to the nature of the crime. Police also found a sledgehammer and a screwdriver.

CAR BURGLARY. A 1975 Porsche was reportedly burglarized Aug. 31 at 10:45 p.m. in the 700 block of Ninth Street. According to police, the burglar pried open the passenger car door, and stole the car's stereo and speakers.

11TH STREET BATTERY. A man reportedly pushed a woman on 11th Street Sept. 6 at 1 a.m. The victim told police she went to visit her former boyfriend and got into a verbal argument with his friend. The argument escalated and the man pushed the woman in the chest.

STOLEN JEWELS. A home was reportedly burglarized in the 2800 block of Tennyson Place between Aug. 7 and 15. The victims told police they last saw their missing jewelry Aug. 7 and discovered it missing eight days later. They discovered no forced entry or any part of their house ransacked. The burglar stole four rings, a necklace and two watches.

The Beach Reporter – September 6, 2002

Crime Watch (9/6) - HERMOSA BEACH

BANK ROBBERY. A man reportedly robbed a bank in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway Sept. 1 at 12:30 p.m. According to police, the man walked into the bank and handed the bank teller a manila envelope with a note attached to it. The note demanded that the teller hand over all of the money in her drawer. The woman filled the envelope with approximately $2,900. The suspect left the bank and the woman called police.

BAR FIGHT. A man was arrested for reportedly hitting another man several times in a bar on the Pier Plaza Aug. 26 at 12:20 a.m. The victim told police the suspect hit him in the face while he stood on the dance floor. The suspect then hit him in the stomach and began kicking him in the while he lay on the ground. The bouncer removed both men from the bar.

BATTERY. A woman was arrested for reportedly putting another woman in a headlock and hitting her in the head on the pier plaza Aug. 24 at 1:35 a.m. According to police, the suspect pushed and scratched the victim after she spilled her drink in a nearby bar. The victim left the area of the bar and the suspect attacked her 20 minutes later as she left.

HOUSE BURGLARY. A house located in the 500 block of Prospect Avenue was reportedly ransacked and burglarized Aug. 20 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The burglar ransacked all four bedrooms and two bathrooms; and stole approximately $10,000 worth of items including two rings, money, a gun and a watch.

CAR BURGLARY. A 1986 Volkswagen Cabriolet parked in the 100 block of Lyndon Street was reportedly burglarized Aug. 29 between 2:30 and 8:45 a.m. The burglar cut through the convertible top with a knife and stole several items, including a stereo and several vinyl records worth about $1,600.

The Beach Reporter – August 29, 2002

Crime Watch (8/29) - HERMOSA BEACH

HOTEL BURGLARY. A hotel room in the 1000 block of The Strand was reportedly burglarized Aug. 4 between 12:30 and 8 a.m. The couple staying in the room told police they went to bed and left the sliding glass door open. The victims woke up the next day to find that their camera, a pair of sunglasses and a bag full of toiletries was missing. The total loss is approximately $900.

CAR BURGLARY. A truck parked in the 1200 block of Palm Drive was reportedly burglarized between 9 p.m. Aug. 10 and 2:50 a.m. Aug. 11. According to police, the burglar entered the truck by prying open its camper shell. The suspect stole a surfboard, a cellular phone, a wallet and two hand-held computers all worth more than $10,000.

BUSINESS BURGLARY. Two laptop computers were reportedly stolen from a business office located along Pacific Coast Highway Aug. 15 between 1:30 and 2 p.m. An employee told police that he was the only person in the office when he heard the lobby door close. The front door of the business is usually left unlocked, and the victim walked into another office and discovered two laptop computers worth an estimated $5,000 missing.

HOLLOWELL BURGLARY. A home located in the 600 block of Hollowell Avenue was reportedly burglarized between 11:45 a.m. Aug. 5 and 12:58 a.m. Aug. 6. The victim told police she returned home to find that the burglar had pried open her bedroom window and ransacked several rooms in her house.

BURGLARY. A home located in the 1200 block of First Place was reportedly burglarized Aug. 14 between 12:30 and 1:09 a.m. According to police, the victim awoke to a sound outside his home and discovered the suspects pried open his garage door. The victim then noticed his television missing and ran outside to find a white sedan coasting down a hill. The victim wrote down the license plate number and then called police. The suspects stole several items including a DVD player and television totaling more than $10,000.

The Beach Reporter – August 15, 2002

CRIME WATCH (8/15) - HERMOSA BEACH

FRAUD. A man reportedly defrauded a hair stylist working at a beauty salon located in the 3000 block of Manhattan Avenue Aug. 6 at 9 p.m. According to police, the stylist cut and colored the man's hair. The man then gave the employee $5 and told her the remaining portion of his money was in his car. The man left the salon to retrieve the money but never returned.

THEFT OF IDENTITY. An unknown person reportedly used the personal information of a person living in Hermosa Beach to open up a fraudulent account for a residential telephone line between July 31 and Aug. 8. The victim received a letter from the company, stating he owed an estimated $3,000. The victim then called the phone company and a representative gave him the name of the suspect.

BURGLARY. A 1992 black Toyota Paseo sitting in a parking lot at 1818 Monterey Boulevard was reportedly burglarized Aug. 3 at 3:17 a.m. According to police, two witnesses saw two cars leaving the scene following the burglary and called police. One car was described as a black Honda Civic. Officers caught up with the car and detained two males sitting inside it for questioning. The witnesses identified the car and believed one of the men was involved in the crime.

VANDALISM. Several suspects climbed up the wall of a restaurant located on the pier plaza and stood on its roof, causing damage to a water line Aug. 11 between 1:30 and 7:30 a.m. According to police, the suspects climbed to the roof and broke a water pipe which drained out onto 13th Court. Police found a cellular phone and shoeprints on the roof.

ILLEGAL DUMPING. A man reportedly defecated outside the front door of a woman living along Hermosa Avenue Aug. 3 at 2:30 a.m. According to police, the victim awoke to a knock on her door. The victim looked through her peep hole and recognized the man as an old friend. She refused to open the door. The victim then witnessed the man pull down his pants and defecate outside her front door.

The Beach Reporter – August 8, 2002

Crime Watch (8/8) - HERMOSA BEACH

CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 2800 block of Ingleside Drive was reportedly burglarized between 3 p.m. July 29 and 7 a.m. July 30. According to police, the burglar stole a car stereo and several other items after the victim left his car unlocked with the driver's window open.

IDENTITY THEFT. A woman reportedly used the identity of a friend in a fraudulent way when police pulled her over for a traffic violation in Hermosa Beach in November of 1995. The victim received a collection notice in the mail from the court stating that she owed $646. The victim believes this friend used her information because she has done it in the past.

FIFTH STREET BURGLARY. A home located on Fifth Street was reportedly burglarized Aug. 1 between 7 and 9:10 p.m. The victim told police she left her home with the back doors unlocked as usual. The victim returned and found the contents of her purse dumped onto her couch. The burglar stole several credit cards, her wallet, her driver's license, two pairs of earrings and a watch.

SIXTH STREET BURGLARY. A house on Sixth Street was reportedly burglarized Aug. 2 between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. According to police, the suspect probably broke into the home through an unlocked door. The burglar stole a pair of sunglasses, a CD case and 20 CDs all worth about $345.

GRAND THEFT. A car in the 200 block of Pacific Coast Highway was reportedly burglarized July 28 between 1:30 and 3 a.m. The victim performed at a nearby bar, loaded his car with music equipment and returned to the bar to visit with his friends. The next day, the victim unloaded his car and found that two cases containing electronic music equipment were missing.

The Beach Reporter – August 5, 2002

Crime Watch (8/5) - HERMOSA BEACH

BURGLARY. A home in the 900 block of 24th Street was reportedly burglarized July 20 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. The suspect stole a laptop computer worth about $1,500 along with a mattress. The victim returned home to find his rear sliding glass door off its track. He walked upstairs and discovered his former roommate's mattress was missing. The victim told officers that he and his two roommates recently parted ways under slightly hostile conditions.

BATTERY. A woman reportedly grabbed another woman by the hair and scratched her face after she accidentally spilled a drink on her inside a bar on the pier plaza July 28 at 1:14 a.m. The victim told police a man asked her to dance inside the bar. When she declined his offer, the man called her a whore and slapped the drink out of the woman's hand. The drink spilled on the suspect who then grabbed the victim and began scratching her in the face. Two employees at the bar separated the women and escorted them outside. The victim had scratches on her face and her right eye was swollen.

VANDALISM. Police arrested a man in the 1400 block of Manhattan Avenue for allegedly smashing a potted plant from a nearby house and being drunk in public July 27 at 2:45 a.m. The value of the broken pot is estimated at $15. The victim does not desire prosecution.

BURGLARY. A business office located in the 2300 block of Pacific Coast Highway was reportedly burglarized between 4:45 p.m. July 25 and 9:10 a.m. July 26. Police believe the burglar forced the front door open and stole several office items. The burglar stole a copier, a fax machine and a printer, all worth approximately $2,500.

DEADLY WEAPON. Four men reportedly attacked a man with golf clubs near the corner of 11th Street and Hermosa Avenue July 25 at 2 a.m. According to police, the four suspects attacked the victim by punching and kicking him to the ground. The victim's friend tried to assist him while the men got into a black Jeep Cherokee and began to drive away. The car then stopped and five men carrying golf clubs got out. The suspects then began swinging the clubs, striking the victim's friend in the back of the head, causing a laceration. The first victim told police he saw the Jeep approach him and signaled the car to move along in front of him. The suspects and the first victim got into a verbal argument about it, and the suspects got out of the car and attacked both men.

HB Crime July to January of 2002

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