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The Beach Reporter – July 25, 2002

Crime Watch (7/25) - HERMOSA BEACH

FORGERY. An unknown person sometime in June or July reportedly forged several credit card checks, belonging to a resident living in the 900 block of Manhattan Avenue. According to police, the suspect used the checks to purchase car parts from two different companies. The victim discovered that the suspect used the checks after one of the companies sent him a courtesy letter, thanking him for his purchase. The victim's roommate was also recently a victim of forgery. The total amount for the checks forged is more than $1,700.

BATTERY. A man hit another man with his closed fist on the pier plaza July 18 at 1:30 a.m. The victim told police he was at a local bar when he approached the suspect whom he considered an acquaintance. The victim told the suspect he wanted to talk to him about an issue related to the suspect's girlfriend. The suspect refused to talk with the victim and pushed him away. The victim then walked away. A short time later, the victim was standing in the bar when the suspect walked up to him and punched him in the face. The suspect then fled the scene.

ROBBERY. Three young men reportedly walked into a business located in the 1200 block of Pacific Coast Highway and demanded money from the store owner July 14 at 11:05 p.m. The victim told the three suspects he did not have any money and offered them an electric guitar. The men refused and demanded that the victim hand over his wallet. The suspects snatched the wallet from the suspect's hands and pulled out $10. The suspects then left the scene and the victim followed them until they noticed him. The victim does not desire prosecution. The police also reported an attempted robbery minutes earlier at a bus stop located directly south of the victim's business.

RELATED CRIME. Three young men reported approached a man standing at a bus stop located in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway July 14 at 11 p.m. and demanded his wallet. The victim told police the three suspects sat next to him on the bus stop bench. While waiting for the bus, a car pulled up to the bench and the three females inside the car asked the suspects for directions. One of the suspects approached the car, reached in and grabbed the purse of the woman sitting in the passenger's seat. After a short struggle, the car pulled away and the suspect was unsuccessful in stealing the purse. The suspect then placed his hand on the victim's rear pocket and demanded his wallet. The victim refused and the suspects walked north on Pacific Coast Highway.

VANDALISM. A bar on the pier plaza was reportedly vandalized May 29 at 8:25 p.m. when a patron and the bar manager got into a verbal argument, and the patron threw a glass over the counter, damaging some lighting equipment. The manager reported the incident July 16 and told police the patron complained to the manager about one of his waiters who spilled a drink on her. The woman wanted the establishment to compensate her with a free drink and the manager refused. The patron then became upset and threw a drink sitting on the bar over the counter, which spilled onto a lighting control console. The manager then called police. An officer responded and held the patron for questioning. The total cost to repair the equipment was $522.

The Beach Reporter – July 18, 2002

Crime Watch (7/18) - HERMOSA BEACH

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY. After first attempting a robbery, a man reportedly assaulted the victim in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway July 10 at 2:30 p.m. According to police, the suspect first tried to take the victim's wallet, watch, shirt and necklace. When the victim refused to give up the items, the robber tried to take the victim's skateboard. The man then hit the victim in the face with a closed fist numerous times, before fleeing the scene on a red mountain bike.

ROBBERY. Two men and one woman July 8 reportedly robbed a bank in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway at 12:52 p.m. According to police, the female robber walked up to a teller and handed her a note that said, "This is a robbery. Give me all of your hundreds. I have a gun." The teller gave the woman a stack of $5 and $1 bills, totaling $339. Redondo Beach Police officers later arrested the suspects in the city of Lomita.

BURGLARY. A house in the 1200 block of Eighth Street was reportedly burglarized July 8 at 9:40 p.m. The victim told police she left for work at 7 a.m. on the day of the incident and returned home to find an unused closet open. Officers discovered that the burglar entered the home by breaking a sliding glass door. The victim noticed nothing missing from her home.

BURGLARY. An apartment in the 2200 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized July 3 between the hours of 3 and 5 p.m. According to police, the victim left his home to buy a newspaper and returned to find his $2,000 video camera missing, as well as $300 in cash. The victim told police he left his kitchen window open but all other doors and windows were locked.

THEFT. A man and a woman were arrested for allegedly stealing a purse from inside a bar on the pier plaza July 3 at 11:31 p.m. According to police, the victim left her purse on a table and returned to find it missing. She noticed a man wearing a jacket with a tan strap hanging out from under it. The victim walked up to the suspect, pulled the strap and her purse fell to the ground. Two witnesses then held the suspect until police arrived. Witnesses told police a female suspect took the purse off the table and handed it to the male suspect. The total worth of the purse was $700.

The Beach Reporter – July 11, 2002

Crime Watch (7/11) - HERMOSA BEACH

GRAND THEFT. A business located in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized June 28 between noon and 5 p.m. According to police, the burglar stole approximately $700 in cash sitting on a desk located in an office at the rear of the building. The manager told police he believes an employee stole the money.

NOISE. A man living on 30th Street has reportedly created unreasonable noise levels for one of his neighbors by hosting loud parties and playing the drums over a two-year period. The victim told police the noise has occurred between the afternoon and 4 a.m. The victim said the noise has negatively affected his quality of life. The most recent incident occurred June 29 at 3:45 a.m.

BURGLARY. A house in the 400 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized July 1 between 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. According to police, the burglar stole seven watches valued at $1,150. Police concluded the burglar entered the home through an open window.

DRUNK. A woman was arrested on the pier plaza July 4 at 9:40 p.m. for reportedly being drunk in public and kicking a glass door in a nearby bar. The bar's bouncer told police he escorted the woman outside through a door on the west side of the building. The bouncer then locked the door and the woman kicked it, cracking the glass. The cost to replace the door is about $1,000.

EMBEZZLEMENT. An employee working at a business located in the 700 block of Pier Avenue reportedly embezzled an estimated $110,000 between September of 1999 and May of 2002. According to police, the employee would cancel valid transactions on the register and take the cash paid through such transactions at the end of the night. The employee has since been fired and the business hopes to prosecute the suspect.

The Beach Reporter – July 5, 2002

Crime Watch (7/5) - HERMOSA BEACH

BATTERY. A woman reportedly pushed another woman against a parked car near the corner of 10th Street and Hermosa Avenue June 22 at 10 p.m., causing injury to the victim's arm. The victim told police she walked up behind the suspect and her male friend. Both the suspect and her friend moved to the side so the victim could pass them. As the victim passed, the suspect told her to get out of the way and pushed her into the car. Two witnesses saw the incident and came to the victim's aid.

ANOTHER BATTERY. Police arrested a man who reportedly hit a woman in the face with a closed fist on the pier plaza June 23 at 1:24 a.m. According to police, the suspect and his friend approached the victim and her friend. The two men began to bother the two women and they walked away. The two men followed the victim, who said it looked like the suspect was going to grab her so she kicked him. The suspect then approached the victim and hit her in the face.

FRAUDULENT SOLICITATION. A woman was questioned in a public parking lot on Hermosa Avenue June 11 at 3:30 p.m. for posing as a Hermosa Beach firefighter so that she could collect charitable donations from residents and business owners. According to police, the woman reportedly called a business owner claiming to be with the Hermosa Beach Fire Department. The business owner made a pledge to the woman, but became suspicious and called police officers who conducted an undercover investigation. Police approached the woman the following day in the parking lot and asked her to search the car. The woman agreed and told police she had no idea about the nature of the operation. Her employer told her that she would call residents and business owners to seek donations on behalf of the Hermosa Beach Fire Department. The suspect then later became a courier for her employer. Police found several checks and gift certificates in the car. Officers cited the woman and booked the items found in the car into evidence.

DEADLY WEAPON. A man was arrested for reportedly hitting another man in the face several times with a closed fist inside a restaurant on the pier plaza June 27 at 11:20 p.m. According to police, the victim stepped in front of the suspect who was waiting in line to use the bathroom. The suspect said the victim appeared to be intoxicated and was acting belligerent. The suspect asked the victim to go to the back of the line but the victim refused. The suspect said the victim then knocked into the suspect with his chest. The suspect then hit him two or three times in the face.

FALSE REPRESENTATION. A man claiming to be with the Hermosa Beach Police Department called a resident living on 17th Street, seeking donations between 7 a.m. June 20 and 10 p.m. June 21. According to police, the suspect said any donations made by the victim would go to pay for new defibrillators. The caller sent a self-addressed envelope to the victim who showed it to police. The envelope was from the, American Police Officers Association with an address located in Washington, D.C. The organization was not licensed or registered with the city.

The Beach Reporter – June 27, 2002

Crime Watch (6/27) - HERMOSA BEACH

SKATEBOARD FIGHT. A man was arrested for reportedly hitting two men in the face with his skateboard June 15 at 1:37 a.m. on the pier plaza. According to police, the victim watched as the suspect got into a fight with several men not known to him. The victim then saw the suspect swing his skateboard and hit one of the men in the face. The suspect then hit the victim in the face with his skateboard for no apparent reason. Several officers broke up the fight and arrested the man.

DRUG OVERDOSE. A man reportedly suffered a GHB overdose June 8 at 6:26 a.m. on 20th Street. According to police, the man took the drug Ecstasy and GHB. The man was sweaty and unresponsive, according to paramedics. The paramedics transported the man to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance.

HERMOSA AVENUE BATTERY. Two men reportedly assaulted another man in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue June 21 at 10:15 p.m. The victim told police he saw one of the suspects urinate in a taxicab which was there to pick up the victim. The victim then confronted the suspect, who hit him in the face and threw him to the ground. The second suspect then began kicking him in the face and body.

BUSINESS THEFT. A sunglasses retail store in the 1700 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized June 19 between 2:40 and 3:40 p.m. According to police, the burglar stole several pairs of sunglasses and watches from an unlocked glass display case during regular business hours. The assistant manager told police she thought she had locked the display case. The total value of the items stolen is $2,420.

STRAND ASSAULT. A man pushed another man to the ground, hitting him on the head June 15 at 2 p.m. in the 2300 block of The Strand. According to police, officers arrived at the scene to find the victim bleeding from the back of the head and suffering from convulsions. Paramedics tended to the victim who was unconsciousness and unresponsive. Paramedics then transported the man to a nearby hospital. Witnesses told police, the victim and the suspect got into a verbal argument. Both men exchanged blows, and the suspect grabbed the victim and threw him to the ground. As the victim fell to the ground, the suspect hit him in the face. The suspect then fled the scene on his bike.

The Beach Reporter – June 20, 2002

Crime Watch (6/20) - HERMOSA BEACH

APARTMENT BURGLARY. An apartment in the 900 block of Monterey Boulevard was reportedly burglarized May 20 between 3:45 and 11 p.m. According to police, the burglar forced open a window by breaking a piece of wood placed in the sill which is used for additional security. The victim returned home to find that both of his front door locks had been locked. He did not have a key to both locks so he entered his apartment through the open window. The burglar took only his electric keyboard.

PALM DRIVE BURGLARY. A home in the 700 block of Palm Drive was reportedly burglarized May 29 between 12:55 and 7:50 p.m. The victim told police she returned home from work and found one of her windows open. She noticed her clock radio in her bedroom missing and knew she had been burglarized. In addition to her clock radio, the burglar stole two rings, two cameras, a CD player Walkman and a roadside repair kit. Police later recovered several of these items after arresting a burglary suspect earlier that day. The total value of the items stolen is $6,785.

FOURTH STREET BURGLARY. A house on Fourth Street was reportedly burglarized between 10 a.m. May 17 and 12:15 p.m. May 20. According to police, the victim left town for the weekend and returned to find a ring, 60 CDs and a bike missing from her home. Reportedly, the only person with a key to her house is the maid who cleaned the residence while she was out of town. The value of the items missing is $3,950.

STRAND BURGLARY. A house on of The Strand was reportedly ransacked May 30 between 6:30 a.m. and 9:40 p.m. The victim told police he left for work in the morning and returned to find his front door slightly open. The victim then discovered the burglar ransacked his three bedrooms. The burglar did not steal anything from the house.

FIRST STREET BURGLARY. A house in the 600 block of First Street was reportedly burglarized May 20 between 8 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. According to police, the victim left her house to spend the night at her boyfriend's apartment and went to work the next day from his residence. The victim returned home that day and discovered she had been locked out of her house. She received help from the Police Department in getting into her home. She discovered that the burglar stole a bike, a portable stereo, numerous CDs and a laptop computer belonging to her roommate. The approximate value of the items stolen is $2,900.

The Beach Reporter – June 14, 2002

Crime Watch (6/14) - HERMOSA BEACH

BURGLARY. A house on 21st Street was reportedly burglarized between 7 p.m. May 24 and 11 a.m. May 25. According to police, the burglar forced a sliding glass door open, and stole numerous items of jewelry and a roll of quarters from the victim's bedroom. The victim returned home from vacation and noticed the sliding glass door open. The victim remembered a suspicious man came to her house several days prior to the burglary and said he was a salesman. The victim allowed the man to enter her house and use the bathroom.

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY. Two men reportedly attempted to rob a man and then hit him in the face June 8 at 12:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Beach Drive. The victim told police the robbers approached him as he walked home from a bar on the pier plaza. One of the men demanded that the victim turn over his wallet. The victim told the men he did not have a wallet and one of the men punched him in the chin, knocking him to the ground.

VANDALISM. A wall at Hermosa Valley School located at 1645 Valley Drive was reportedly vandalized sometime between 5 p.m. May 31 and 8 a.m. June 3. A maintenance worker called officers, and told them she discovered graffiti written in pink and purple crayon. The writing was racially offensive and police believe a group of youths pretending to be a city gang called the Hermosa Beach Locals are responsible for the crime.

BURGLARY. An apartment in the 800 block of Manhattan Avenue was reportedly burglarized June 6 between 2 and 5 a.m. The victim returned home the next morning to find a window in his home open. The burglar stole 150 CDs worth about $1,500.

BUSINESS BURGLARY. A business in the 100 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized June 8 at 6:25 a.m. According to police, the burglar broke in through a window, entered the business and then tried removing the cash register. The burglar, who discovered no money in the cash drawer, ransacked the business and forced open the side door in order to flee the scene. Approximately $400 in damage was reported.

 The Beach Reporter – June 6, 2002

Crime Watch (6/6) - HERMOSA BEACH

BURGLARY. An apartment in the 800 block of Monterey Boulevard was reportedly burglarized May 24 between 9 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. According to police, the burglar entered the victims' home through an open window and stole several items including a video camera, jewelry and a piggy bank containing approximately $70 in change. One of the three victims returned home from work and noticed her things missing after she observed several of her dresser drawers open and the smell of cigarette smoke lingering in the house.

LIGHTHOUSE ASSAULT. Two women reportedly assaulted a man in a bar on the Pier Plaza and The Strand May 27 between 5 and 6 p.m. According to police, the suspects sat next to the victim and his friend in the bar. The victim got into a verbal argument with one of the suspects, who then threw her drink and cocktail glass at him. The glass hit him below the left eye, causing a small laceration on his face. The suspect left the bar and began walking south along The Strand where the suspects then attacked the victim with their hands and feet. The suspects eventually fled the scene.

HOME BURGLARY. A Hermosa Beach home was reportedly burglarized May 29 between 12:55 and 7:50 p.m. According to police, the victim returned home to find a window open. The burglar stole two rings, a CD player, an alarm clock, two cameras, a roadside repair kit and a duffel bag all worth an estimated $6,700.

BATTERY. A man reportedly assaulted a woman walking home in the 1600 block of Manhattan Avenue May 31 at 2:20 a.m. The victim told police the suspect approached her and she recognized him as the same man who tried having a conversation with her in a bar on the pier plaza. The man suggested they go get a drink but the woman declined the offer. The man then grabbed the woman by the arms. The victim tried to break free but the suspect would not let go. The suspect then pushed the victim to the ground, causing her to hit her head on the pavement. The suspect then ran north on Manhattan Avenue, and the woman ran home and called police. She suffered a small laceration on the back of the head and paramedics transported her to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance.

LEWD CONDUCT. A man reportedly exposed himself to two women and a young child while driving a black Chevrolet pickup truck near the corner of Valley Drive and Second Street May 25 at 3:10 p.m. The victims told police the man stopped his car and talked to them in Spanish. One of the victims noticed the man masturbating. The man then drove east on Second Street.

 The Beach Reporter – May 31, 2002

Crime Watch (5/31) - HERMOSA BEACH

BATTERY. A man was arrested for reportedly attacking another man at a bar in the 1200 block of Hermosa Avenue May 24 at 8:17 p.m. According to witnesses, the victim was watching a basketball game and cheering for a team that the suspect did not like. The suspect then grabbed the victim by the shirt, pulled him to the ground and began punching him in the face.

BURGLARY. A home on Fourth Street was reportedly burglarized between 10 a.m. May 17 and 12:15 p.m. May 20. According to police, the burglar broke into the home by way of a locked window. The suspect stole several items, including numerous CDs, a ring and a bike which were all valued at $3,950.

APARTMENT BURGLARY. An apartment on First Street was reportedly burglarized May 20 between 8 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. The victims told police the burglar broke into the home through the bathroom window. The suspect stole a stereo, a bike, a laptop computer and approximately 10 CDs. The total value of all the items stolen is estimated at $2,810.

HOME BURGLARY. A home in the 900 block of Monterey Boulevard was reportedly burglarized May 20 between 3:45 and 11 p.m. According to police, the suspect entered the home through a window. The victim told officers he returned from work to find his Yamaha keyboard missing.

GARAGE BURGLARY. An open garage in the 100 block of Fourth Street was reportedly burglarized May 18 between 3:30 and 4 p.m. The victim told police the suspect broke into his open garage and stole a Callaway golf bag containing clubs, shoes and balls, totaling $2,500.

The Beach Reporter – May 24, 2002

Crime Watch (5/24) - HERMOSA BEACH

SUITCASE THEFT. A man reportedly stole a another man's suitcase sitting outside his house in Hermosa Beach May 8 at 8:15 a.m. According to a witness, the suspect stole the piece of luggage and got into a 1980s red Pontiac. The total worth of the suitcase and its contents is approximately $1,050.

ANTIQUE THEFT. An antique medicine bottle from China, valued at $21,800, was reportedly stolen from a woman's home located in the 2500 block of The Strand between April 18 and May 9. According to police, the victim did an inventory on her bottle collection and noticed the piece missing.

MUSTANG BURGLARY. A 1999 white convertible Mustang was reportedly burglarized between 5:30 p.m. May 14 and 7:45 a.m. May 15 in an underground parking garage in the 400 block of Second Street. The victim found the top of her car cut open and her computer laptop worth $1,500 missing.

SEXUAL ASSAULT. A man was arrested after reportedly sexually assaulting two women on the pier plaza May 11 at 2:15 a. m. Witnesses informed several officers of the incident and police eventually detained the suspect and his two friends for further investigation. The women told officers the men were flirting with them in a friendly manner as they tried ending the conversation and walking away. Suddenly one of the men reached out and grabbed one of the women's breasts. The women said she was shocked and slapped him. The man then hit both women in the face and threatened to kill them. The women pressed charges and placed the suspect under a private person's arrest.

DEADLY WEAPON. A man was arrested for reportedly attempting to use his truck to divert a man's car into oncoming traffic at the corner of 190th Street and Pacific Coast Highway May 11 at 9:30 a.m. According to police, the victim was loading his laundry into his 1996 Ford Explorer in the 100 block of Hermosa Avenue. The victim noticed the driver in a black Ford truck pass by him at a close and unsafe distance. The truck then headed eastbound onto Herondo Street. The victim then got into his SUV and followed the suspect. The suspect began changing lanes and decelerated in front of the victim, forcing him to slow down. The victim recognized the man as someone who had threatened him in the past. The victim drove past the suspect, who tried turning south onto Pacific Coast Highway. The suspect then tried to cut him off and forced him in front of northbound traffic. The suspect was later arrested by police.

The Beach Reporter – May 16, 2002

Crime Watch (5/16) - Hermosa Beach

DEADLY WEAPON. A woman reportedly struck a man in the head with a drinking glass May 9 at 12:40 a.m. at the Pitcher House located at 142 Pacific Coast Highway. According to police, the suspect and the victim got into an argument earlier that evening. The bartender, who was talking to the victim during the time of the incident, witnessed the entire crime and watched as the suspect and her two male companions ran out of the bar. The victim was bleeding slightly from the three lacerations on his head.

BATTERY. A man reportedly hit another man in the face May 8 at 8 p.m. at the public basketball courts located in the 800 block of Valley Drive. The suspect and victim were playing on opposing teams. The suspect yelled at the victim and then hit him above the left eye with his closed fist, causing a small laceration.

LEWD CONDUCT. A man was arrested for lewd conduct May 8 at 6:40 p.m. after the police reportedly found the man standing naked and fondling himself in a jacuzzi at an apartment complex located in the 1800 block of Ardmore Avenue. Officers responded to the manager's complaint, who lives in the complex and was informed about the suspect.

GRAND THEFT. A 1987 silver Mercedes Benz belonging to a man staying at a hotel in the 100 block of 14th Street was reportedly burglarized and vandalized in the city of Lomita between 9 a.m. May 3 and 9 a.m. May 5. According to police, the victim gave permission to the suspect to use his car for the day. The suspect never returned and the victim finally tracked the suspect down at a motel in the city of Lomita. The suspect eventually gave the victim back his keys. The victim found his car in the parking lot, and discovered his car had been vandalized and numerous items were missing including a set of golf clubs, three suits and a car stereo. The items stolen total more than $2,800. The suspect also reportedly stole $1,300 out of the victim's hotel room while the car's bumper, windows, roof and dashboard were damaged.

BATTERY. A man reportedly hit another man in the face with a closed fist May 1 at 5:45 p.m. at a fast-food restaurant at 1107 Pacific Coast Highway. According to police, the suspect was using the bathroom when the victim's son knocked on the bathroom door. The suspect opened the door and began yelling at the victim's child. The victim intervened and both men got into an argument. The suspect became angry and hit the victim in the face. The victim then followed the suspect outside, who threw his food at him.

 The Beach Reporter – May 9, 2002

Crime Watch (5/9) - HERMOSA BEACH

CIVIC BURGLARY. A 1995 white Honda Civic was reportedly burglarized in the 1600 block of Ardmore Avenue between 11 p.m. April 30 and 8 a.m. May 1. According to police, the burglar pried opened the passenger's side door and stole the car's stereo, a portable CD player and several CDs. The total value of the items stolen is $700.

BANK FRAUD. The personal information of a man living along Pacific Coast Highway was reportedly used illegally to access his bank account April 27. The man told police that a customer service representative from his bank called him and told him that a person claiming to be him tried to access his bank account. In a series of three transactions, the suspect tried to withdraw $5,700 from the victim's account but was unsuccessful in collecting the money after the teller concluded the identification being used looked suspicious.

STATUE THEFT. A 6-foot statue, weighing between 50 and 60 pounds, was reportedly stolen from outside a business located at 901 Hermosa Ave. between 6 and 6:30 p.m. May 2. The employee told police that while closing the business, he noticed the statue was missing. The statue depicts, "The Creature from the Blue Lagoon" and is worth approximately $5,000.

GUN BRANDISHED. Police arrested a man who reportedly brandished and pointed a firearm at three children at Clark Field May 4 at 11:41 a.m. Several witnesses told police the suspect pointed a BB gun at the victims who then ran away. The three kids ran to the police station and described the victim. Officers later arrested a 43-year-old transient. According to the victims, the suspect asked them about a plastic sword they were playing with and then pulled out the gun and said, "Looks like a perfectly good day to shoot someone." The suspect then pulled the trigger and the kids ran away.

VANDALISM. A man reportedly smashed the glass door of a business located in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue May 5 at 2:17 a.m. According to police, the suspect got into a verbal argument with two men who are employees of the company. The suspect, who appeared to be intoxicated, challenged the two men to a fight. The men then entered the company and locked the door behind them. The suspect became upset, kicked the glass door and then fled the scene.

The Beach Reporter – May 2, 2002

Crime Watch (5/2) - HERMOSA BEACH

WALLET THEFT. A woman reportedly stole a man's wallet that was sitting on a counter inside a nail shop located in the 1200 block of Pacific Coast Highway April 27 at 2:43 a.m. According to police, the victim, who was visiting family members who owned the business, put his wallet containing $300 in cash on the counter while helping his cousin clean and prepare the work stations for the next day. The woman entered the shop and took the wallet. The victim and his cousin tried to stop her as they called police. A male suspect then walked inside the shop and threatened the victims if they touched the woman again. Both suspects fled the scene with the wallet.

APARTMENT VANDALISM. An apartment complex located in the 1800 block of Pacific Coast Highway was reportedly vandalized April 22 between 9 and 10:15 p.m. The manager told police he discovered the suspect had written graffiti on numerous walls with black spray paint.

ALCOHOL FIGHT. A man reportedly hit another man in the face several times over a bottle of alcohol in the area of The Strand and Pier Avenue April 21 at 5:22 p.m. According to witnesses, the two men were friends and suspect began arguing with the victim about the bottle of alcohol, demanding that he hide it. The victim refused and the suspect then hit him in the face two to three times with a closed fist. The suspect then ran southbound along The Strand while the victim was eventually transported to a nearby hospital.

ASSAULT. A man reportedly confronted another man, yelled at him and then hit him in the face April 21 at 1:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of Manhattan Avenue. According to police, the suspect and his friend confronted the victim outside the restroom of a restaurant and told him to watch where he walked because he had bumped into the suspect. The victim then tried to defend himself while the suspect became angry. The victim told the suspect he did not want to fight just as the suspect hit him in the face. The suspect and his friend ran out of the establishment. The victim's friend transported him to a nearby hospital where he received approximately seven stitches under his eye.

ANOTHER ASSAULT. A man reportedly grabbed then pushed a woman after she refused to make his acquaintance April 20 at 1:42 a.m. in the downtown Loreto Plaza. According to police, the victim met the suspect outside a bar through mutual friends. She did not enjoy his company and decided to wait for her friends near the establishment's front door. The suspect threatened the victim, who eventually left the area with her friends. The victim, who saw the suspect later in the evening, refused to talk with him. The suspect then grabbed the victim's right wrist, twisted her arm and pulled her across the plaza area. He then pushed her to the ground. The victim then pushed the suspect against a glass business window. Doormen from a nearby bar intervened and called police.

PLUNGER NEEDED. A man in police custody reportedly vandalized his jail cell located at 540 Pier Ave. by plugging the toilet with a blanket which caused severe water damage April 17 at 12:15 a.m. Officers discovered water overflowing in the jail area which had leaked down into the evidence room. The video surveillance had recorded the suspect clogging the toilet with his blanket causing an overflow of water from his cell.

The Beach Reporter – April 25, 2002

Crime Watch (4/25) - HERMOSA BEACH

EXPEDITION BURGLARY. A 1998 black Ford Expedition parked in the 500 block of Pier Avenue was reportedly burglarized April 12 between 8:45 and 10:50 p.m. The victim told police he returned to his car to find that the burglar had smashed his rear passenger window. The suspect stole a compact disc magazine, six CDs and a cell phone. Officers noticed severe damage to the car's ignition which led them to believe that the burglar attempted to steal the car. The total value of the items stolen and the damage to the car is $425.

VANDALIZED. A man's home located in the 500 block of Pier Avenue was reportedly vandalized by a friend who broke a window in his house April 7 at 9:05 p.m. According to police, the victim met the suspect about one month ago. At the time of the incident, the suspect was working at the victim's home with his new laptop computer. The victim noticed that the suspect had typed the victim's personal information into his computer, including his name, birth date, and address. The victim asked the suspect about the matter, and the man became very uncooperative. The suspect then closed his computer and proceeded to leave the victim's house. The victim tried to stop the suspect so that he could remove the information from his computer. The suspect then broke the window and fled the scene.

BIKE THEFT. A bike was reportedly stolen out of a storage closet located in the 400 block of Monterey Boulevard between 7 a.m. Feb. 2 and 11 a.m. April 7. The victim told officers he put the bike in his storage closet located in his carport which faces the alley, Bayview Drive. The victim returned to his house, unlocked his closet and noticed the bike missing.

CAR VANDALISM. A woman's 1995 white Volvo 850 parked in her driveway in the 100 block of Manhattan Avenue was reportedly vandalized March 22 between 8 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. According to police, the woman walked outside to water her flowers and noticed that the vandal had written obscenities on her car with orange spray paint.

BURGLARY. A woman's home located in the 500 block of Gould Avenue was reportedly burglarized April 9 between 7 and 8:14 p.m. According to police, the burglar entered the house through an unlocked sliding glass door and stole both jewelry and currency.

The Beach Reporter – April 19, 2002

Crime Watch (4/19) - HERMOSA BEACH

OLDSMOBILE BURGLARY. A red 2001 Oldsmobile was reportedly burglarized in a parking structure located in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue April 13 between 11:54 a.m. and 1:54 p.m. According to police, the victim and his two friends parked his rental car in the garage to go shopping in the downtown area. The two men and the woman returned to discover that someone had stolen a suitcase from inside the locked trunk. Officers believe the burglar pried open the driver's side door. The suitcase contained clothing, jewelry, a cell phone, a camera, perfume and the victim's plane tickets for a return flight back to New York City.

BANK ROBBERY. A man reportedly robbed a bank on the city's downtown pier plaza April 8 at 1:52 p.m. According to the victim and several witnesses, the man walked up to the teller, handed her a note demanding the money and walked out of the bank. Officers arrived minutes later and searched for the man but found nothing. The note demanded that the teller, "count out 1,500 $100 bills," or the suspect would shoot her. The teller handed over a stack of $100 and $20 bills. As the suspect left the bank, the teller walked over and pushed the silent alarm.

VANDALISM. Two male juveniles reportedly vandalized the men's bathroom of a coffee shop on Hermosa Avenue April 9 at 8:15 p.m. An employee noticed the two boys sitting at a table who were talking very loud. The employee asked them to lower their voices. The suspects then asked for the bathroom key. The suspects entered the bathroom and then left soon after using it. The employee then entered the restroom and found graffiti on the inside of the door.

TOGO'S ROBBERY. Two men reportedly tried robbing an eatery in the 400 block of Pacific Coast Highway April 11 at 9:57 p.m. According to police, the two suspects entered the business, displayed a handgun and demanded money from the employee. The robbers soon discovered that there was no money available and they left with nothing. The victim walked outside to take out the trash and the suspects accompanied her back inside minutes later. The suspects demanded money, and the victim told them the money had already been put inside the night drop and only the owner had the key. The two suspects then fled the scene.

ROBBERY ARREST. A 19-year-old man was arrested for reportedly robbing a woman outside a surf shop located near the corner of Pier Avenue and Monterey Boulevard. According to witnesses, the suspect ran out of the shop and grabbed the woman's purse. The two struggled over the purse until the suspect ripped it from the victim's hands. Several witnesses chased the suspect eastbound on Pier Avenue. The suspect then dropped the purse when he ran onto Loma Drive. A witness eventually caught up with the suspect and detained him until police arrived on the scene.

The Beach Reporter – April 11, 2002

Crime Watch (4/19) - HERMOSA BEACH

EMBEZZLEMENT. A Chinese rug left for consignment at a store on Pacific Coast Highway Oct. 23 was reportedly never sold nor returned to the owner. The store recently went out of business and the owner has yet to return the rug to the victim. On April 5, the victim told police he left several items on consignment with the store owner. The original owner of the store allowed the victim to collect four of the five items left at the store. However, the whereabouts of the rug are not known at this time. The business has filed for bankruptcy and police advised the victim to handle the matter by way of civil action. The value of the rug is approximately $250.

BATTERY. A man reportedly grabbed and pushed another man into a wall outside a bar in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue April 6 at 1:24 a.m. According to police, the victim witnessed the suspect hit one of his friends in the face outside the bar. The victim tried to break up the fight and the suspect grabbed him and pushed his head into the wall, causing a two-inch laceration on the top of his head.

VANDALISM. A business located in the 300 block of Pier Avenue was reportedly vandalized between 8:30 p.m. April 5 and 10 a.m. April 6. According to police, graffiti was found on the walls of the business which appears to be gang-related writing drawn in spray paint. An employee left the business and returned the next morning to find the graffiti left on three different walls.

BURGLARY. A 1991 Ford Mustang was reportedly burglarized between 10:30 p.m. March 31 and 8 a.m. April 1 in the 100 block of 29th Street. The victim told police he parked his car in a nearby parking garage and returned to find the car's hood, a convertible, was torn open. The burglar stole the victim's stereo and numerous CDs.

CREDIT CARD FRAUD. The credit card number of a woman living in the 400 block of The Strand was reportedly used to purchase cellular phone service on March 1. The woman reported the crime April 4 and told police she received her credit card statement and noticed a $484 charge to Sprint PCS. The woman called the company but the fraud prevention representative gave her no additional information.

The Beach Reporter – April 4, 2002

Crime Watch (4/4) - HERMOSA BEACH

TERRORIST THREATS. A man reportedly threatened to kill a restaurant manager working on Pacific Coast Highway March 23 at 7:30 p.m. According to police, the manager noticed the suspect standing outside the establishment and asked him if he could help him with something. The suspect told the manager that he had heard a rumor that he had a problem with serving homosexuals. The manager denied the accusations and the man then threatened to kill him. The suspect then left the scene.

BATTERY. A man was arrested for reportedly getting out of his car and assaulting another man in the 2000 block of Pacific Coast Highway March 26 at 4:50 p.m. The victim told officers his attacker cut him off in a left-turn lane so he began cursing at him. The man then forced the victim off the road by pulling in front of him and blocking two lanes of traffic. Both men got out of their cars and the victim attempted to punch the suspect but missed. The victim then got back into his car and the suspect walked over and hit him several times through his open car window. The victim's car was in gear during the assault, and his car lurched forward and ran into several nearby bushes. The passenger in the victim's car sustained injuries when her head hit the windshield. The suspect, who was driving a 1988 gray BMW, was later arrested in Redondo Beach.

BATTERY. A man reportedly hit a woman in the face with a closed fist outside a bar on the pier plaza March 25 at 7 p.m. The victim told police she left the bar and walked onto the plaza. The suspect and the victim got into a verbal argument after the suspect reportedly threatened her. The suspect then hit her in the face and walked away up Pier Avenue. Both the suspect and the victim were intoxicated at the time of the incident.

BRIBERY. The father of a man, who was recently arrested for stalking his ex-wife, reportedly tried to bribe his former daughter-in-law with $5,000 to drop the charges on his son March 26 at 2:45 p.m. The victim told officers her former father-in-law called her at home and offered her to pay the money if she would lie to the police so that his son would avoid prosecution.

BATTERY. Two men reportedly assaulted a man March 29 at 2:19 a.m. outside a pier plaza pizzeria. According to police, the victim's one-night stand with one of the suspect's girlfriend was the reason for the assault. The two suspects talked to the victim then assaulted him for several minutes by hitting and kicking him. The victim was very intoxicated during the assault and didn't file a report the night of the incident.

The Beach Reporter – March 28, 2002

Crime Watch (3/28) - HERMOSA BEACH

HOLIDAY FIGHT. Two men hosting a St. Patrick's Day party in the 500 block of Eighth Street were reportedly assaulted by three men who attended the gathering March 17 around 3:30 p.m. According to the victims, one of the suspects became rude to the men and challenged them to a fight. The two victims tried escorting the suspect down a flight of stairs with the intention of asking him to leave the party. The suspect then challenged one of the victims to a fight again. The victim backed away but the suspect attacked him. The suspect hit the victim, who was knocked to the floor and rolled down two flights of stairs. The two other suspects then continued to punch and kick him. The other victim tried to intervene but one of the suspects punched him in the face. One of the victims called police and the suspects then fled the scene. The victims suffered several cuts and bruises to the face, upper back, jaw and left shoulder.

MARCH MADNESS. Two men reportedly got into an argument over a call at a children's basketball game which ended with the suspect allegedly choking the victim March 19 at 6:10 p.m. at the Hermosa Beach Community Center. According to police, the suspect is the commissioner of the Hermosa Beach Community Basketball League and ruled the game should be called a forfeit, contending the competition among the two teams became too physically violent. Coincidentally, the suspect's son and the victim's son were playing against each other in the game at the time of the forfeit. The victim then approached the suspect who was sitting in his car and asked him why he forfeited the game. The suspect then got out of his car, and threatened the victim. He then grabbed the victim around the neck and began choking him. The victim then told the suspect he wasn't going to hit him and kept both of his hands at his side. The suspect's wife then exited the car, grabbed her husband and drove away on Pacific Coast Highway. There were no witnesses to the incident but another parent claimed the suspect challenged him to fight over another game in the past. Several parents have told police that the suspect has become irate with other parents, volunteers and children.

INDECENT EXPOSURE. A man reportedly pulled up in his car, exposed himself and then began to masturbate in front of another man in the 1400 block of Hermosa Avenue March 20 at 4:27 p.m. According to police, the victim flagged down officers and told them he noticed the suspect circling around a donut shop in the area. The victim waved to the driver and asked him what he wanted. As he approached the vehicle the suspect said, "I'm kind of horny." The victim then noticed the suspect had exposed himself and was masturbating. The suspect then noticed the victim was not interested and drove off south on Hermosa Avenue. The victim ran after the suspect until he was out of view and then flagged down police.

CAR VANDALISM. A car parked in the 100 block of Manhattan Avenue was reportedly vandalized between 8 p.m. March 21 and 8:30 a.m. March 22. The victim told police she had parked her car in her driveway and returned the next morning to find orange writing on her white 1995 Volvo. She was in a traffic accident two days prior to the crime and exchanged information with the man involved in the incident. She believes the man involved in the accident is also the vandal.

HOUSE BURGLARY. A woman's car was reportedly stolen after an unknown person broke into her home located on 18th Street and stole her car keys March 22 between 5 and 9 p.m. The victim told police she left , locked her house and noticed her spare set of keys sitting in a basket near the front door. She returned to find her keys and green 1994 Mercedes missing.

The Beach Reporter – March 21, 2002

Crime Watch (3/21) - HERMOSA BEACH

TIRE THEFT. The tires of a 2002 gray BMW were reportedly stolen outside its dealership located in the 2900 block of Pacific Coast Highway around 4:30 a.m. March 12. During a routine patrol in the area, an officer noticed the car without wheels propped up by a tire jack and a brick. According to the parts manager, the car should have been locked on the lot but the employee who was the last to leave the business forgot to secure it. The surveillance camera footage documented the incident, but police were not able to see the thief in plain view.

LAPTOP THEFT. A computer laptop was reportedly stolen out of a hotel in the 900 block of Aviation Boulevard between 9:30 p.m. March 9 and 10:30 a.m. March 10. The victim told police that he and his girlfriend checked into the hotel and remembered placing the laptop in the room. The couple remained in the room the entire evening and woke up the next morning to find the laptop missing. The couple did notice that the sliding glass door to their first level room was open. The hotel clerk informed the couple that a separate incident occurred the same night involving a stolen laptop.

BATTERY. A man reportedly followed another man from a bar on the pier plaza to a bar in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue and physically attacked him. According to police, the two men got into an argument after the suspect took the victim's seat. Both men were then escorted out of the bar. The victim walked to the second bar and noticed that the suspect had followed him to the rear of the establishment. The suspect reportedly attacked the victim and hit him in the face and body with a closed fist. Two men saw the victim lying on the ground after witnessing the attack and watched the suspect run into a nearby parking lot.

SURF SHOP BURGLARY. Five teen-age boys reportedly entered a surfboard shop in the 300 block of Pier Avenue, and stole a skateboard and several items of clothing March 9 at 5:20 p.m. The manager noticed the boys entering the store and watched them as they pretended to shop. The boys stood in the clothing section talking quietly and then suddenly ran out of the store with the items. The manager chased them on foot to the corner of Pier Avenue and Monterey Boulevard where the suspects jumped into a black Chevrolet Camaro. The estimated worth of the items stolen is more than $400.

VANDALISM. A man was arrested for reportedly shooting his neighbor's Hermosa Avenue house with a BB handgun March 8 around 6:30 p.m. The victim heard the sound of gunshots and noticed his neighbor firing rounds at his house's floodlight. Police responded to the victim's emergency call, surrounded the area and finally arrested the man and retrieved a replica of a Sig Sauer semiautomatic handgun from inside his house.

The Beach Reporter – February 28, 2002

Crime Watch (2/28) - HERMOSA BEACH

DRUG POSSESSION. Police charged a man with possession of a controlled substance near the corner of Hermosa Avenue and 14th Street after reportedly discovering a small bottle full of Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate in his pocket Feb. 24 at 3:30 a.m. Officers found the "date rape" drug while paramedics treated the suspect for an apparent overdose. According to police, the suspect met two women at Einstein's restaurant earlier that evening. The trio then walked in the direction of the Sea Sprite Hotel and met an unidentified man wearing a gold sweatshirt. The two men left and returned 30 minutes later. All four subjects walked along Hermosa Avenue until the suspect was unable to continue and could not control his body movements. The two women called paramedics while the unidentified man fled the scene. Police responded, searched the suspect for weapons and found the bottle. The suspect told police it was GHB. Paramedics then transported the man for further medical treatment to Little Company of Mary Hospital.

ASSAULT. A man reportedly hit a child in the back after this same child reportedly pushed his son to the ground at Hermosa View School Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m. According to police, the children were playing together when the suspect's son fell to the ground. The suspect was present during the incident and walked over to the victim and struck him in the back. The suspect then said, "How does it feel?" The victim apologized and the suspect responded by saying, "It's too late for sorry." The victim's father told police he hopes to resolve the situation with the suspect.

BATTERY. A taxi driver from Old Yellow Cab Company reportedly attempted to choke a taxi driver from United Independent Cab Company at a taxi stand near the corner of Hermosa and Pier avenues Feb. 19 at 1:30 a.m. The victim told police he was waiting in line when the suspect drove up and cut in front of him. The victim got out of his car and informed the suspect he could not work in Hermosa Beach because he did not have a city permit on his taxi. A verbal argument ensued and the suspect grabbed the victim by the throat. The victim suffered an elbow to the eye after struggling with the suspect, who eventually let go and fled the scene in his cab.

BATTERY. A one-legged man reportedly attempted to hit a man with his crutches after making ethnic slurs in the 700 block of Pier Avenue Feb. 19 at 7:10 a.m. According to police, the victim, who is of Mexican descent and performs landscape work for the city, was picking up trash around the Hermosa Beach Community Center when the suspect drove toward him in his car and began yelling at him, making derogatory comments. The suspect then spit at the victim. The victim walked away, and the suspect got out of his car and followed him. The victim noticed the suspect had only one leg. The suspect tried using his crutches to hit the victim, who dodged the attack. Eventually, the suspect got tired and drove away.

THREATENING PHONE CALLS. A man living in the 100 block of Ardmore Avenue reportedly received threatening phone calls from several men Feb. 19 at 2:45 p.m. The victim believes these same men were involved in a minor traffic accident with him Feb. 17 near Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The victim told police the men in the accident had no valid identification and contends the accident is a scam after a witness approached him, accusing him of driving drunk. The victim almost called police but decided against it after the men suggested they exchange information. The victim later discovered the number given to him was out of service. Since the accident, the victim has received several threatening phone calls from several different men. The last caller left a message telling the victim they knew where he lives and they were coming to get him.

The Beach Reporter – February 21, 2002

Crime Watch (2/21) - HERMOSA BEACH

BATTERY. A man reportedly pushed and kicked another man in the 1300 block of Palm Drive Feb. 17 at 1:30 a.m. According to police, the attacker and his two friends got into a verbal argument with the victim. The man pushed the victim to the ground then kicked him in the head. The attacker fled the scene while the victim sustained minor injuries.

BURGLARY. A storage room in the 800 block of Manhattan Avenue was reportedly burglarized between 3 p.m. Feb. 3 and 10 p.m. Feb. 15. The victim told police he had locked the room, but returned to discover approximately $5,800 worth in scuba and fishing gear had been stolen.

GRAND THEFT. A man is suspected of reportedly using his client's personal information to burglarize his storage room located in a self-storage facility in the 500 block of 11th Place between May 1 and Feb. 2. The victim told police he hired the suspect to remodel his home. The suspect stored some of the victim's belongings in a self-storage unit during the renovation, but the victim was unaware that the storage rental agreement was under the suspect's name. The approximate worth of the items stolen totaled more than $11,200.

BATTERY. A man reportedly got into a verbal argument and spit at a parking enforcement officer in the 1300 block of Manhattan Avenue Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. According to police, the victim saw the suspect parked in a red zone and began writing a ticket. The suspect then got out of his car and yelled at the officer. After the officer handed the man his ticket, the man drove off while spitting at the officer, hitting him in the chest.

BURGLARY. A home in the 400 block of 29th Street was reportedly burglarized Feb. 15 between the hours of 5:45 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The victim told police she knew all of the windows were closed, but was unsure if she had locked her front door. Upon her return, she noticed that the front door was closed. She used her key to get inside but she couldn't tell if her door was locked. Officers were able to dust for a print left on a perfume bottle. The burglar stole items worth an estimated $20,000.

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