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Hermosa Beach Crime Reports for December to July of 2003
HB Crime 2005 HB Crime 2004 HB Crime 2003 HB Crime 2002 HB Crime 2001
HB Downtown March to Jan. of 2005 HB Downtown Dec. to Aug. of 2004
1998-2003 HB Crime Stats HBPD Community Policing
1998-2003 HB Crime Stats Compared to Manhattan Beach
Hermosa Beach Crime Statistics - 1998 thru 2003
Rape Burglary Non-Injury ALL DUI Criminal ALL Total Calls
Auto Acc. Assaults Citations Arrests for Service
1998 -- 8 113 201 77 150 562 624 19,951
1999 -- 6 118 170 119 203 613 692 21,378
2000 -- 6 145 195 97 152 545 629 25,147
2001 -- 9 104 176 141 170 668 873 32,422
2002 -- 15 118 202 131 214 943 1,027 28,728
2003 -- 11 143 258 140 285 989 1,343 32,241
Crime Categories That Have Shown an Increase from 1998 thru 2003
Rape Burglary Non-Injury ALL DUI Criminal ALL Total Calls
Auto Acc. Assaults Citations Arrests for Service
Up Up Up Up Up Up Up Up
37 % 26 % 28 % 81 % 90 % 75 % 115 % 61 %
Crime Statistics from: The Hermosa Beach Police Department Activity Reports
Hermosa Beach Crime Reports - compiled by Whitney Youngs of The Beach Reporter.
The Beach Reporter - January 8, 2004
Hermosa Beach - Crime Watch (1/8)
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON. A group of five men reportedly assaulted a man near the corner of 22nd Street and Hermosa Avenue Jan. 1 between 2 and 2:05 a.m. The man told police he was skateboarding across the street when he heard a group of men yell, "That's one of them." The suspects ran toward the victim and grabbed him. One of the men put him in a headlock while the four others punched and kicked him. The victim finally pulled away and began to run away. As he ran off, one of the suspects picked up the victim's skateboard and hit him in the upper back. The victim sustained lumps to his head, a bloody nose and abrasions to his face.
ARMED ROBBERY. A man reportedly walked into a business in the 700 block of Pier Avenue and robbed the store and the two employees at gunpoint Dec. 30 at 11:35 p.m. According to the employees, the man walked into the store, stayed about five minutes and left around 9 p.m. He later walked in again and walked around the store for a few minutes. He then approached the employee behind the front counter, took out the gun and pointed it at him. He then said, "Hey you, you're being robbed, give me all of your money." The employee complied and gave the robber between $75 to $100 from the cash drawer. During the exchange, the second employee walked up behind his co-worker. The suspect then asked for the wallets of both employees that contained cash. The suspect then asked if their identification was in the wallets and both victims said, "Yes." The suspect then said, "The reason I'm taking your wallets is if I see you make a call in the next 10 minutes, I'm going to your houses." The suspect then fled the scene and the victims called police about 10 minutes later.
OAKLAND RAIDERS FANS. A man was arrested for reportedly hitting a woman in the face twice with a closed fist in a bar located on the pier plaza Jan. 2 at 12:21 a.m. The victim told police she was sitting at a table across from the suspect when they began to argue over the success of the Oakland Raiders football team. The suspect became angry and punched her in the mouth with a closed fist. The bar employees witnessed the fight and escorted the man out of the bar. As they escorted him outside, the man turned around and hit the woman one more time. The woman, who sustained a swollen lip and two small abrasions, put the man under private persons' arrest.
ALL OVER A CIGARETTE. A man was arrested for reportedly hitting another man in the face because he didn't have a cigarette Jan. 1 at 3:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The victim told police he was walking down the street when the suspect, walking the opposite way, said, "You better have a cigarette for me." The victim did not know the man and did not want confrontation so he didn't answer him. The victim tried to walk by but the suspect bumped his shoulder. The suspect then demanded a cigarette from the victim who said he didn't have one. The victim told the suspect to leave him alone and the suspect then hit him in the face with a closed fist. An off-duty Hermosa Beach Police officer was sitting in his car at a red light and saw the suspect hit the victim. He immediately called for help, got out of his car and helped detain the suspect. Police arrested the man who showed signs of intoxication.
STRONGARM PURSE ROBBERY. A man reportedly robbed a woman of her purse on the pier plaza Jan. 1 at 1:30 a.m. The victim told police she was standing in front of a restaurant and flagging down a friend from a distance. She raised her arms over her head and the suspect came from behind, grabbed her purse and ran away. The victim chased after the man but he got away. The purse and its contents - a cellular phone and cash - are all valued at $350.
The Beach Reporter - January 2, 2004
Hermosa Beach - Crime Watch (1/2)
IDENTITY THEFT. An unknown person reportedly used the private information of a person living in the 2400 block of Silverstrand Avenue to open up a telephone account that remained active between Aug. 13 and Dec. 29. The victim told police she received a letter in the mail from a collection agency stating she owed about $520 to the phone company. The suspect used the victim's maiden name and Social Security number to open the account.
GRAND THEFT. A surveillance camera located near 19th Street and Hermosa Avenue was reportedly stolen between 5 p.m. Dec. 26 and 8 a.m. Dec. 29. The property owner installed the camera at the top of the pole to oversee workers at the site currently under construction. The camera, connected to a small black box, contained a transmitter, which allowed the victim to watch the site over the Internet. The project manager reported the theft since the property owner was out of town.
VANDALISM. A green Ford Mustang parked in the 400 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly vandalized Dec. 30 at 12:41 a.m. A witness told police she heard the sound of smashing glass and ran out onto her balcony to see what happened. The suspect(s) used an 8-by-10-inch cinder block to break the window. She then called police. The victim told police he parked the car on the street in the hopes of selling it. The victim noticed nothing missing from the car. Police noticed three smashed eggs on the hood and windshield of the car, and found the car's "For Sale" sign in the street.
ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON. A man and woman were arrested for assaulting a man outside a restaurant in the 1000 block of Hermosa Avenue Dec. 27 at 2:38 a.m. Citizens advised several police officers patrolling the pier plaza of a fight in front of the restaurant. Officers arrived and noticed numerous people yelling in the street. Officers noticed both suspects had blood on their clothes, hands and faces and the female suspect's blouse was torn. According to a witness, the fight broke out between the man and another man - the victim - and she saw the victim fall to the ground. She then saw the female suspect pick up a chair, hit the victim several items in the back of the head and then kick him in the face and ribs. According to another witness, the victim attempted to make small talk with the male suspect who became agitated and started to yell at the victim. The witness then saw the suspect hit the victim in the face. Another witness heard the male suspect say, "We're from New York and we don't take any sh**." The victim then said, "I'm from Hermosa Beach and I don't take any sh** either." The victim placed the male suspect under a private person's arrest and police arrested the woman for felony assault.
ASSAULTING A PEACE OFFICER. Police arrested a woman after she reportedly slapped a police officer in the face in a parking lot along 11th and The Strand Dec. 27 at 1:12 a.m. Officers responded to a call of a fight in the parking lot where they found the suspect standing with two other women, challenging another group of women to a fight. Police advised the suspect to leave but she did not respond. The officer then touched her on the arm and told her to leave again, and the woman turned and slapped the officer with her right open hand.
The Beach Reporter – December 23, 2003
Crime Watch (12/23) - Hermosa Beach
TRESPASSING. Police reportedly detained a man after they found him sitting at a table in a closed restaurant in the 2700 block of Pacific Coast Highway Dec. 14 at 3:20 a.m. Police responded to the establishment's alarm and discovered a white Jeep Cherokee parked in the restaurant's lot, running, with all of its doors open. Officers checked the restaurant and noticed all of its doors locked and closed with the exception of the front door that was unlocked but closed. Officers saw the man sitting at a booth inside and approached him. The man told police he drove to the restaurant with a man and a woman. The man told him to go sit inside until the restaurant opened for business. He said he entered the restaurant through the unlocked front door and sat down at a booth. He told police he thought the man and woman were still inside the car. He didn't know their names and told police he had never been arrested. Police checked his records that told him he had been on probation for narcotics. Police contacted the owner who told them he was not an employee. She also called her supervisor who told her that he locked up the restaurant the night prior to the incident.
CAR BURGLARY. Three men were reportedly arrested for suspicion of car burglary Nov. 26 at 12:04 a.m. in the 1600 block of Monterey Boulevard. According to police, a witness heard car noises outside his bedroom window and looked to see a car screeching its tires and racing up and down the street. Two men got out of the car that sped away. The car then returned and followed the two men as they walked along the sidewalk. One of the men got into a car parked along the street through its unlocked rear passenger door and began to rummage through it. The second suspect driving the car then got out and stood as a lookout while the first suspect began to load the suspect's car with items found in the victim's car. The suspect then backed up the car with the stolen goods and parked it on the same street. Police responded to the witness account and looked inside the victim's unlocked car, which had debris throughout it. Officers found registration in the glove box and attempted to contact the victim at home. The victim no longer lived at the address on the registration so police returned to the scene to find two men standing outside the suspect's car. Police detained and later arrested the men once the witness positively identified them. Officers later detained the owner of the suspect car and asked permission to search the car. The owner agreed and police found items the witness said he watched the suspects steal. The items included two skateboards, a backpack and numerous CDs valued at more than $600.
GRAND THEFT. Numerous items were reportedly stolen from a woman's car in the 100 block of Lyndon Street between 2 and 6:30 a.m. Dec. 5. According to police, the woman drove two of the suspects, who were acquaintances, over to an apartment on Lyndon to meet two other men. A third suspect and the victim went to the bathroom together and spent between 30 and 45 minutes inside. The victim walked out to find a fourth suspect on her cellular phone. The victim asked him what he was doing and he said the phone rang so he answered it. The victim asked the suspect if he went through her purse and he said he did. She then gathered up her things and left the apartment. On the way home, she received a call from the second suspect who asked if she could come back to the apartment and pick him up, and she agreed. The victim and the suspect spent a few hours together and she went out to her car in the morning to retrieve a new sweater she planned on wearing to work. She discovered it was gone, noticed no broken glass, and noticed all of her windows and doors were locked. She then checked her purse and noticed that her bank card was missing and $400 in cash. She told the second suspect who acted surprised. She told police everyone was drinking, but she did not think she was drunk. She knows the suspects from a fitness club in Torrance where they all work as personal fitness trainers. She believes the items stolen from her car, which include cash, two new sweaters, CDs and a CD player valued at about $2,300, were stolen while she was in the bathroom with the third suspect.
The Beach Reporter – December 18, 2003
Crime Watch (12/18) - Hermosa Beach
BEER THEFT. A teen-age boy reportedly walked into a liquor store in the first block of Hermosa Avenue and ran out with two 12-packs of beer Dec. 12 at 6:22 a.m. The employee working told police the suspect, who looked about 16, walked into the store, stole the beer, then ran out and got into a blue Ford Bronco parked on Lyndon Street.
ESCORT SERVICE GONE AWRY. A man visiting from Taiwan reportedly paid money to an escort agency in his motel room in the first block of 14th Street without any services. The man called the agency for some female entertainment, and two women and a man showed up at his room. The victim told them he wanted a show and the man said he had to pay first. The victim gave the man $350 then said he said they were not going to do it. The man left with the women and drove away in a dark SUV. The victim didn't want to file an official police report because he was leaving for Taiwan the next day.
GRAND THEFT. A box of medication valued at $500 was reportedly stolen from underneath the bed of a woman living in the 500 block of 20th Street between Nov. 19 and 7 p.m. Dec. 9. The victim picked up her medication, hid them under the bed and later discovered them missing. Police noticed no forced entry into the house and noted that the victim kept valuable items out in the open in her house that were not touched.
The Beach Reporter – December 11, 2003
Crime Watch (12/11) - Hermosa Beach
VANDALISM. A man reportedly broke several windows of a car and one to a house in the 600 block of Ninth Street Dec. 5 at 1:20 a.m. of a man who allegedly assaulted him at a bar earlier that night. According to police, officers found the suspect sitting in his Hummer bleeding from what appeared to be a broken nose. The suspect told police the victim heatbutted him and punched him in the face with a closed fist inside a restaurant on the pier plaza. The suspect was upset about the fight and drove to the victim's home, took out his golf clubs and began breaking the windows of the victim's Jeep Cherokee. The man then threw a wooden log into the window of the victim's house. Police smelled alcohol on the man's breath and after a series of tests concluded he was also on a controlled substance. The damage to the house and car are estimated at $1,500.
BATTERY. A man reportedly hit a police officer in the face on the pier plaza Nov. 30 at 1:47 a.m. Employees of a local establishment flagged down officers about a group of men fighting. Officers attempted to break up the fight, and the suspect pushed and then hit the officer in the face. The victim and another officer wrestled the man to the ground after he resisted them and both officers suffered minor injuries.
PETTY THEFT. A man reportedly stole a bottle of whisky from a grocery store in the 2500 block of Pacific Coast Highway Dec. 5. Store employees told police they saw the man walk into the store and push a shopping cart around with the bottle of whiskey sitting inside. They then saw the man put the bottle into his jacket and exit the store. He then got into a green sedan and fled the scene. Employees said they could identify the man again since he is a regular customer.
PETTY THEFT. Two women reportedly entered a clothing store in the 1400 block of Hermosa Avenue and stole the purse of the employee working there Dec. 3 at 1:05 p.m. The employee told police the two women appeared evasive and tried to distract her. One of the suspects asked to see a pair of shorts on the wall while the other suspect moved out of sight. The suspect just stood there and looked at the shorts, and then both women left the store and hopped into a white sedan that traveled south on Hermosa Avenue. The employee discovered her purse missing with contents valued at $360.
SHED BURGLARY. A guitar valued at $1,500 was reportedly stolen from an unlocked shed in the 700 block of 10th St. Dec. 2 between 2:30 and 5 p.m. The victim believes an acquaintance he met six months ago is responsible for the theft. The victim told police he met the suspect outside a store and they began talking with each other. The subject of the guitar came up, and a month later the suspect asked to buy the guitar for $300. The victim refused, telling him the price was too low. The victim then saw the suspect a month ago lurking around his home. He approached him and the suspect said he came by to see if the victim was home. The subject of the guitar came up again, and the victim believes the suspect stole it because he wanted it and knew where it was stored.
The Beach Reporter – December 4, 2003
Crime Watch (12/4) - Hermosa Beach
FRAUD. An unknown person reportedly used the credit card of a person living on Monterey Boulevard between Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 to illegally purchase goods. According to police, the victim was out of the country from Nov. 17 through Nov. 25 and returned home to find a Visa bill statement with charges in the thousands.
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. A man living in the 1900 block of Valley Park Drive reportedly alerted police to an e-mail he received by an anonymous sender containing child pornography photographs Nov. 26 at 12:43 a.m. The man received the message, read the subject line related to child pornography and said he could preview it inside the e-mail. He didn't open it and called police. An officer told him to forward the message to his address. Police reviewed the e-mail that contained six photos of a male adult having sex with a girl between the ages of 3 and 5. Police called the man back and told him to erase the message since it was illegal for him to have it. Officers then logged the e-mail in evidence.
PROWLING. A woman reportedly called police after she discovered a man prowling outside her bedroom window in the 500 block of First Street Nov. 25 at 10:05 p.m. The victim's friend dropped her off at her home after eating at a nearby restaurant. She walked into her bedroom and began to undress. She looked out the window and saw the man lying down looking through the window. She then walked outside to confront the man, and she told police he appeared startled and apologized. She last saw him climbing over a wall to escape.
FORGERY. An unknown person reportedly forged and cashed a check for about $2,500 by using a man's American Express account between Nov. 15 and Nov. 28. The man, who lives on Manhattan Avenue, received a call from American Express asking him if he cashed the check. The man receives checks in the mail from American Express and believes someone stole them from his mailbox.
BURGLARY. Several important documents and pieces of jewelry were reportedly stolen from a secured box in a woman's house in the 500 block of First Street between Nov. 1 and Nov. 28. The woman told police she opened the box to retrieve several documents in reference to her soon-to-be divorce. She discovered several documents missing, including a title certificate to her ex-husband's car. She also noticed several pieces of jewelry missing. She noticed no forced entry into her home or the box. The victim hid the key to the box in a location she only knew about. She strongly suspects her ex-husband who also lives in Hermosa Beach. The court is expecting to finalize the divorce once the couple divides their possessions.
The Beach Reporter – November 27, 2003
Crime Watch (11/27) - Hermosa Beach
MONEY STOLEN. Money locked inside a safe located in a business in the 1100 block of Aviation Boulevard was reportedly stolen Nov. 18 between 1 and 10:30 a.m. The owner of the business placed approximately $800 in cash in two vinyl bank bags, locked them in the safe, set the business alarm and locked its door for the night. The owner then called an employee the next day to open the business. The business owner arrived later, saw the safe sitting in an unusual manner and discovered the money missing. Police noticed a saw was used to cut open the safe. The business owner said a former employee who was fired in August would have access to that kind of equipment. The former employee didn't have a key to the business but does know the alarm code. A worker who painted an outside door earlier that day pointed out to police that it now had pry marks. Police believe this door was the point of entry.
DRUG/BATTERY ARREST. Police arrested a 14-year-old boy for battery and possession of drug paraphernalia in the 300 block of Hopkins Avenue Nov. 17 at 8:10 a.m. According to police, the mother of the boy called police about a domestic dispute. The boy allegedly spit on his mom when she woke him up for school. The boy told his mother he was not going to go to school, and began yelling at her. She demanded he attend school, and the boy became increasingly violent and then spit on her leg. He then attempted to get into his mother's car to retrieve his cellular phone. The victim suspects her son of drug use. She told police she smelled what she believed to be drugs burning in his room on a previous occasion. She believes he was smoking crack. She told police she feels her son is out of control and she fears for her safety. Police asked to search the boy's bedroom and the woman agreed. Officers found a wooden box that was locked at the foot of his bed. Officers asked if they could open it and the woman agreed. They found a glass pipe, baking soda, a tube fashioned out of a writing pen, two metal spoons, a small plastic bag with white powder residue, a fake cola stash can and a plastic beverage bottle with scorched holes in it. Police observed the pipe that had scorched residue on it and the scent was not consistent with tobacco or marijuana use. Officers transported the boy to school and said they would return if the boy caused problems at school. A school administrator later called police and said the boy refused to go to school. The boy was booked at the station and his mom said she would press charges if it would help her troubled son.
VANDALISM. A hotel room was badly damaged in the 2500 block of Pacific Coast Highway between 6 p.m. Nov. 15 and 11:30 a.m. Nov. 16. A woman rented a room for her 16-year-old son who is suspected of the crime. The manager rented the room not knowing the teen-ager would be in the room unsupervised. The hotel received no calls or complaints during their stay. The housekeeper arrived at the room the next morning and saw two girls around the age of 14 leave the room. The housekeeper noticed damage to the interior of the room and on the exterior on the roof, and contacted the hotel's general manager. One of the pieces of damaged property was a window that had been broken. Police noticed blood on the inside and on the outside on the roof. They collected several beer cans for evidence. The damage is estimated to be $3,000.
DISCHARGING A FIREARM. A man reportedly called police after hearing six gunshots near the intersection of Valley Drive and Herondo Avenue Nov. 20 at 1:50 a.m. On his way to the call, the officer was flagged down by another witness who told police as he was getting out of a taxicab, he saw flashes from the shots coming from an old gray Chevrolet Impala or Monte Carlo. Officers then spoke with the witness who initially called police. He told officers he was lying in bed when she heard one shot and then a series of five quick shots. Police searched the area and found 9 mm Luger Winchester brass casings in the street.
The Beach Reporter – November 20, 2003
Crime Watch (11/20) - Hermosa Beach
INDECENT EXPOSURE. A woman reportedly witnessed a man masturbating in his car parked near the intersection of Hermosa and Pier avenues Nov. 14. The victim told police she was changing the clothing of several mannequins standing in the front window of a clothing boutique when she noticed the man. She saw the man in the front seat of his car. She could see his genitalia and said he was masturbating. She called police after the man drove east on Pier Avenue. Police stopped the man who told them he stopped by the beach and the post office on his way home from work in El Segundo.
FRAUD. A man reportedly used a bank card with a balance of zero to buy drinks at a bar in the 100 block of Pacific Coast Highway Oct. 9. The bar owner reported the crime Nov. 11 and told police two bartenders who worked for him could identify the man if seen again. He told police the man ordered several rounds of drinks and left the bar without closing his tab. The total amount of the tab was $124 and one of the bartenders tried running the card which came back as declined. The bartender tried again Oct. 10 to no avail.
IDENTITY THEFT. An unknown person reportedly used the personal information of a woman living in Hermosa Beach to increase the credit limit on several existing credit card accounts and also applied for two new accounts between Oct. 18 and 21. The victim reported the crime Nov. 11. According to police, the suspect entered Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Robinsons May and increased the credit limit on each account. The suspect also opened two new accounts at Mervyn's and Target. The suspect spent $6,800 over a three-day period. The victim believes her driver's license number and Social Security number were taken from a clinic where she received treatment for a recent pregnancy.
BATTERY. A man reportedly grabbed his wife and shook her outside a restaurant in the 100 block of Second Street Nov. 10, at 6:15 p.m. According to police, the woman and her estranged husband met outside the restaurant and began to talk about the death of one of their dogs. An argument occurred and the man became angry after he noticed his wife was recording the conversation. He then tried to take the recorder by grabbing her arm and squeezing it hard. The woman said he became verbally abusive and has a history of physical abuse.
GRAND THEFT. A bicycle was reportedly stolen from the pier plaza, which was later recovered Nov. 5 between the hours of noon and 8:17 p.m. The victim rode his bike down to the plaza and locked it there. The bike was stolen and the victim reported it to police. Officers later arrested a man on a bike in the area of Beach Drive and 14th Street for public intoxication and noticed the bike was similar to the one stolen. They also found a pair of pliers in his pocket. The victim positively identified the bike and the suspect was also booked for theft. The bike is valued at $800.
The Beach Reporter – November 13, 2003
Crime Watch (11/13) - Hermosa Beach
GRAND THEFT. A pair of speakers valued at $2,400 were reportedly stolen from a house under construction in the 400 block of 31st Street between midnight Aug. 15 and noon Nov. 4. The owner noticed the speakers missing from his house that is semi-secured during nonbusiness hours and is open to many workers during the day.
BURGLARY/FORGERY. A man was reportedly arrested for presenting a counterfeit drug prescription at a supermarket in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway Oct. 31 at 11 a.m. According to the pharmacist, the man walked in with a prescription for Vicodin. The employee became suspicious and called the doctor's office that had no record of any such prescription. She called police and pretended to act busy until officers arrived to arrest the man.
BATTERY. A man reportedly hit another man in the face with a closed fist outside a restaurant in the 1100 block of Hermosa Avenue Nov. 9 at 2:37 a.m. Officers witnessed several subjects standing in front of the establishment shouting at and pushing each other. They then witnessed the suspect swing at the victim several times and eventually strike him. The victim told police he and the suspect were acquaintances. The man suffered some bruising and swelling under his left eye.
HOME BURGLARY. A home in the 400 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized Nov. 4 between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. According to police, the victim and her roommates left the residence and locked the door behind them. She returned home to find staples inside the front door's deadbolt. She removed the staples and put her key in the door. She could not recall if the door was locked or unlocked. She walked into her bedroom to find her jewelry box on her bed with all of its contents missing. Her roommate also discovered her jewelry missing.
PETTY THEFT. Two teen-age boys reportedly walked into a supermarket in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway and stole two bottles of whiskey Nov. 5 at 6:38 p.m. According to police, an employee saw three teen-agers enter the store, all of whom appeared to be younger than 21. Two of them walked toward the liquor aisle while the third walked around the store as a possible distraction. The two boys were wearing heavy jackets and placed the two bottles inside of them. They all three exited the store and left in an older brown compact car. An employee called police on his cellular phone, and gave officers the license plate number and a description of the suspects.
The Beach Reporter – November 6, 2003
Crime Watch (11/6) - Hermosa Beach
VANDALISM/RESISTING ARREST. A man reportedly punched a window of a business in the 500 block of Pier Avenue Nov. 2 at 12:03 a.m. According to police, the man punched the window and told police he was being a "drunk idiot." He told officers he would pay for the window if they didn't take him to jail. Police smelled a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. The owner arrived and told police the same window had been smashed twice before and had cost him $1,000 to fix it each time. An officer arrested the man who told him in the car ride to the station that he was an Army Ranger and he would, "kick his a**." In the station, the man was staggering and fell over a bench. Police thought he was faking his condition. A paramedic suggested giving him an IV, but also thought the suspect was faking his condition. Just as the paramedic began to place the needle in the man's arm, the suspect lunged forward and began to fight with the paramedic. A few police officers tackled him to the ground where he attempted to bite one of them. He then placed his hands under his chest and refused to be handcuffed. The officer punched his ribs until they were able to place his right hand in cuffs. The man still refused to allow his left arm to be cuffed. Officers then wedged a baton between his body and arm, and he moved his left wrist out from under him. The man was still fighting when officers placed him in a jail cell.
BURGLARY. A homeless man was detained after he knowingly ordered food at a restaurant in the 200 block of Second Street without money Oct. 30 between the hours of noon and 1:57 p.m. The man ordered a $10 plate of food that he ate. The server then left the check and asked him if he could pay the bill because she was closing up the restaurant. The man began looking in his pockets and told the server he must have forgotten his wallet. She told him she was going to call the police and he told her to calm down. The police arrived and knew the man from previous, similar incidents dating back to April 2003.
BATTERY/IGNORING COURT ORDER. A man reportedly assaulted an officer while he tried to evade police in his car near the corner of Hermosa Avenue and 11th Street Nov. 11 at 10:44 p.m. A woman flagged down the officer and told him she had a restraining order against the man who was her ex-boyfriend. The court order also stated that the woman retained exclusive rights to the car he was driving which was registered under both parties. The officer found the man at a bar on the pier plaza and asked the man to come outside. The officer asked for identification and the man told him he had nothing so then he asked the suspect to verify his name and he did. The officer then showed him a copy of the court order that required the man to stay away from his girlfriend and it also gave her rights to their Lincoln Navigator. The officer said he could hand over the keys or have the car towed. The man refused and put the copy of the restraining order in his back pocket. The man then walked to his car while the officer called in for backup and asked a patrol car to park behind the man's SUV. The man went to put the key in the ignition and the officer told him to get out of the car. The man refused and began to close the driver's side door. The officer reached in and grabbed his right arm to prevent him from starting the car. The man then pushed the officer, which caused him to lose his grip. The officer felt that the man was trying to get away and so he used pepper spray on him. Police eventually removed the man from the car. They took him to the ground and handcuffed him.
IDENTITY THEFT. An unknown person used the personal information of a man living in the 600 block of 10th Street to open a credit card account at Lowes department store that was in use from Sept. 1, 2000, through March 22, 2002. The victim filed the report Oct. 20 after he obtained a credit report to buy property. The report show the victim had a delinquent account at Lowes in the amount of $3,772 and the bill was being sent to his old place of business.
The Beach Reporter – October 30, 2003
Crime Watch (10/30) - Hermosa Beach
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 3200 block of Highland was reportedly burglarized between 5 p.m. Oct. 10 and 6 a.m. Oct. 13. The burglar(s) gained entry into the car by using a tool to punch the passenger door, and stole a pair of sunglasses and the car's stereo.
CAR DAMAGE. A Jeep Cherokee parked in the 500 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized between 9 p.m. Oct. 15 and 7 a.m. Oct. 16. The burglar cut the car's plastic roof and plastic window covering causing $1,000 in damage.
IDENTITY THEFT. The personal information of a person living in the first block of 17th Street was reportedly used to create fake personal checks. The fake checks were drawn from the victim's previous checking account and used to make purchases. The victim received a call from a representative from Bank of America who was calling to check the validity of two checks. The victim's address, name and phone number were on them, but the bank noticed the victim's past checks did not include her number and the check background design was different. Each check number was higher than 900, but the bank had yet to issue the victim checks above that number. A total of three checks were written totaling $2,656.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. A man reportedly pushed his former girlfriend to the ground in the 800 block of Cypress Avenue after an argument Oct. 24 at 3:36 p.m. According to the victim, she and her ex-boyfriend got into an argument about ending their relationship. He arrived at her house to gather several pornographic videos and put them in a bag. The victim was concerned the tapes contained her and the suspect involved in sexual acts which were filmed without her knowledge, but she became aware of later. She retrieved the bag from the suspect's car and began to walk to her house when he suddenly pushed her to the ground. She told police that it had happened so fast, she had trouble articulating what had occurred. The suspect told police he arrived at the house to gather the videos and he and the victim got into an argument, but no one was struck. A witness to the incident told police he was in his house watching television when he heard the victim and the suspect arguing. He saw the victim grab the bag of videos and walk back to her house. He then saw the suspect push the victim to the ground and told him if he touched her again he would touch him. The victim had a mark on her back and redness on her neck.
THEFT. A car parked in the carport of 2100 Loma Drive was reportedly burglarized between 6 p.m. Oct. 19 and 9 a.m. Oct. 20. The burglar(s) stole a pair of sunglasses and an emergency pack.
The Beach Reporter – October 23, 2003
Crime Watch (10/23) - Hermosa Beach
ANIMAL POISONING. A cat belonging to a woman living in the 400 block of Manhattan Avenue reportedly died Oct. 19 and the woman believes a neighbor poisoned the cat. According to police, the woman filed a report with officers Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. She told police she had moved into her apartment eight or nine months ago and later she was approached by her neighbor who told her he didn't like cats leaving feces in his garden and implied the fecal matter belonged to her cat, Figaro. On Oct. 14, she received a notice from the Hermosa Beach Animal Control that her cat was going to the bathroom in a neighbor's yard and assumed it was the same neighbor. On Oct. 19 at 10 a.m., she found her cat foaming at the mouth with dilated pupils. She immediately took her cat to a nearby hospital and doctors ran some tests, concluding the cat could have possibly been poisoned. The cat suffered kidney failure and doctors eventually euthanized it. The woman returned home later than day and found a partially eaten can of Bumble Bee tuna outside her residence. She examined it, and it was blue and green. She believes it may have been laced with antifreeze. She told police she will have it tested and also mentioned her neighbor's cat has also been missing for several days now.
STOLEN DVDS. Two men reportedly walked into a video store in the 700 block of Pier Avenue and stole DVDs Oct. 16 at 2:30 p.m. According to the store employee, the two men walked into the store and congregated in several aisles. The second suspect asked the employee if he knew where the new "Matrix" DVD was and the employee directed him to it. When the employee turned his back, the first suspect ran out of the entrance door with about 20 DVDs. The second suspect tried to run out of the exit door with five DVDs but the employee ran into him, knocking the items to the ground. Both men ran outside and down some stairs to a parking lot. The stolen DVDs are valued at $300 and the employee can identify the suspect if seen again.
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 1200 block of Ninth Street was reportedly burglarized between 8 p.m. Oct. 14 and 7:26 a.m. Oct. 15. The victim returned to her car and unlocked the driver's side door. As she was driving away, she noticed her stereo faceplate missing and damage to her dashboard. She told police she locked her car, but discovered her passenger door unlocked. The stolen car stereo plate and the damaged dash are valued at $400.
STOLEN BAG. A couple's bag was reportedly stolen from the beach while they slept next to it Oct. 5 between the hours of 1 and 2 p.m. The bag contained numerous items including a camera, a CD player, wallet, cash, a pair of shoes, a cell phone, a ring and CDs. The stolen items are valued at about $2,100.
STOLEN BIKE. A bicycle valued at $1,000 was reportedly stolen from a storage unit inside a garage in the 400 block of Second Street between Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 in the early morning. The victim told police she believes one of the contractors working on the building stole it. The bike was locked to a pole and she said the contractors were the only people who knew of its location.
The Beach Reporter – October 16, 2003
Crime Watch (10/16) - Hermosa Beach
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 1700 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized between 7 p.m. Sept. 23 and 6 p.m. Sept. 24. The victim left the car in an unlocked parking garage and may have also accidentally left the car unlocked. The burglar(s) stole a CD player and some loose change.
FRAUDULENT CREDIT CARD USE. A woman's credit cards were reportedly used fraudulently to buy goods between 12:30 a.m. Sept. 27 and 12:52 a.m. Sept. 30. The victim and her two friends took a cab near Hermosa Avenue. The victim was intoxicated and vomited in the back seat of the car. The driver stopped the car near Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway, called police, and demanded the fare and $90 to clean up the vomit. The driver flagged down a police officer who told him he could only charge for the fare since the matter related to the vomiting was a civil matter. She left her purse in the back seat of the taxicab and her credit cards were used at various gas stations.
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 400 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized between 8 p.m. Sept. 24 and 10:08 a.m. Sept. 25. The car's glove compartment and center console were ransacked, and the burglar(s) tried to remove the stereo without success.
STOLEN BACKPACK. A backpack and all of its contents was reportedly stolen from the beach on the south side of the pier Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. The victim left his belongings on the beach while he went surfing for 30 minutes. When he returned, they were missing. The total value of the lost items is $65.
IDENTITY THEFT. The personal information of a woman living in the 100 block of Monterey Boulevard was reportedly used Sept. 8 to open a checking account. The woman reported the crime Sept. 29 after she received a letter from the bank stating that she had bounced a check in the amount of $20. She told police she had her purse and all of its contents stolen in Redondo Beach July 12.
The Beach Reporter – October 9, 2003
Crime Watch (10/9) - Hermosa Beach
IDENTITY THEFT. An unknown person reportedly used the personal information of a woman living in Hermosa Beach to obtain a credit card between Sept. 27 and Oct. 1. The woman received a statement in the mail with a balance of $1,133 and she closed the account immediately. The unknown suspect used her name, address, Social Security number and driver's license number to obtain the card.
FRAUDULENT AUCTION. A man living in the 2600 block of Manhattan Avenue reportedly paid someone money for several items bought over the Internet that were never sent to him Aug. 14. The crime was reported Oct. 1. The man reportedly bid on and paid for several gold coins on the Web site E-bay, which were never sent to him.
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the driveway in the 600 block of 21st Street was reportedly burglarized between 10:30 p.m. Sept. 29 and 7 a.m. Sept. 30. The victim is not sure if he locked his car, but when he returned he found the driver's side door slightly open. The burglar ransacked the car and stole several items including golf clubs, a computer organizer and a knife all valued at $1,870.
VANDALISM. A window on 13th Street was reportedly vandalized with spray paint using the letters "EG" Sept. 25. The cost to fix the damaged window is $600. The victim said he noticed the same two letters scratched into another window on Sept. 11, but he never reported the crime.
HUSBAND AND WIFE FIGHT. A man reportedly hit his wife in the face with a closed fist on the pier plaza Sept. 27 at 12:01 a.m. The wife met her husband at a restaurant on the plaza to discuss child custody issues. The couple ate dinner and drank, and then got into a verbal argument inside the establishment that escalated outside on the plaza. The man then hit his wife on the left side of the face, which knocked her unconscious for a few seconds. The husband and wife are separated and have two kids together who are 4 and 6 years in age.
The Beach Reporter – October 2, 2003
Crime Watch (10/2) - Hermosa Beach
DISTURBING THE PEACE. Three men were arrested and then released after allegedly disturbing the peace in the 800 block of Hermosa Avenue Sept. 16 at 1:21 a.m. According to police, a restaurant manager standing the sidewalk saw the three men walking toward him. One of the men pulled down his pants and began to urinate. The manager asked him what he was doing, and the man became aggressive and began using profanities at the manager. The two other men joined in and the manager thought they could have started a fight, so he called police. The urinating man was tall and was not wearing a shirt. All three men fled the scene after the encounter. Officers heard the description over the radio and remembered visiting a house of a man who fit such a description earlier that night for noise complaints. The officers detained all three men at the house and transported the manager to the locale where he positively identified them. Officers transported the men to the station where they denied leaving their house the whole night and they were later released.
ALANO CLUB FIGHT. A man reportedly hit another man in the 700 block of 11th Place Sept. 21 at 5:05 p.m. Both men were attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at the Alano Club when the suspect called the victim over to him during a break in the meeting. The victim knew the suspect from previous meetings. The suspect then became agitated and then hit the victim in the face with a closed fist. The suspect then walked to his car and fled the scene.
DVDS STOLEN. An unknown person reportedly walked into a video store in the 700 block of Pier Avenue Sept. 21 between 2:15 and 2:45 p.m. and stole several new DVDs from their cases. An employee noticed that the cases had been damaged with a sharp object and then discovered the DVDs missing. The total valued of the DVDs stolen is $440.
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked near the corner of Manhattan and Pier avenues was reportedly burglarized Sept. 21 between the hours of 6 and 7 p.m.
The Beach Reporter – September 25, 2003
Crime Watch (9/25) - Hermosa Beach
GROCERY SHOPPING. A woman reportedly tried to purchase items at a grocery store in the 2500 block of Pacific Coast Highway with a forged check Sept. 15 at 8:32 p.m. According to police, the woman attempted to purchase about $383 worth of groceries from the store. The employee reviewed the suspect's check and driver's license, and became suspicious so she called the number on the ID and talked to a woman who identified herself at the woman on the ID and told her she had recently had her purse stolen. The employee called police but the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.
CAUGHT RED-HANDED. A man reportedly tried to steal a woman's purse from a bar on the pier plaza Sept. 18 at 11:37 p.m. The woman left her purse in plain view on a barstool and got up to dance. She watched her purse from the dance floor until a man blocked her view. When he moved, her purse was missing. The woman confronted the man and demanded he lift up his shirt. When he did the woman's purse fell out. The woman contacted police and a witness told officers he saw the whole thing. The woman did not want to press charges and the suspect told police he didn't steal the purse. He told officers he asked the woman to dance and she refused and then became verbally abusive.
CASH REGISTER THEFT. Money from a cash register inside a hotel in the 900 block of Aviation Boulevard was reportedly stolen Sept. 15 between 2:33 and 2:55 a.m. The hotel night manager got up to use the bathroom and locked the hallway door before leaving. When he returned, he found the money in the register missing, along with his wallet and cell phone.
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 100 block of The Strand was reportedly burglarized Sept. 18 between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. The suspect pulled out the lock on the passenger side door and stole a bag containing miscellaneous chrome car pieces.
The Beach Reporter – September 18, 2003
Crime Watch (9/18) - Hermosa Beach
HOME BURGLARY. A home in the 3000 block of Hermosa Avenue was reportedly burglarized Sept. 3 at 4:52 p.m. The victim told police he saw a man walk briskly away from his front door while he was standing at the rear of his home. He had left his front door open and walked inside to find his wallet and cell phone missing. He called his phone and a man answered who said he took the items and would return them. The victim then called police. An officer at the scene called the cell phone and the same man answered. The suspect gave his name and his address, and told the officer he was attending school in Long Beach. He told the officer he would return the stolen items. The phone and wallet were later found in Manhattan Beach with $25 missing from the wallet.
VIDEO STORE THEFT. A man and three young children reportedly stole an unknown amount of DVDs from a video store in the 700 block of Pier Avenue Sept. 14 at 7:40 p.m.
LIQUOR HEIST. Two men were arrested after stealing several bottles liquor from a grocery store in the 700 block of Pier Avenue and returning in an attempt to steal more between 10 p.m. Sept. 7 and 1:09 a.m. Sept. 8. The men filled up a plastic bag with a six-pack of beer, three bottles of vodka, one bottle of whiskey and two bottles of cognac; and walked out of the store. They later returned to the store for more where police detained them.
HOTEL MAYHEM. A man reportedly destroyed property after getting into a verbal argument with a friend staying at a hotel in the 1300 block of The Strand Sept. 5 between 6 and 7 p.m. The suspect became upset with his friend, who was a patron at the hotel, and damaged two vases, two mirrors, a table and the hotel elevator. The total damage is estimated at $9,800.
ASSAULT. A man reportedly threatened and assaulted an officer after being arrested for public intoxication in the 1200 block of Hermosa Avenue Sept. 7 at 9:20 p.m. The officer arrested the man after he crossed the street illegally and noticed the man was intoxicated. The officer determined the man was a potential threat to his own safety or to the safety of others and transported him to the station. During the booking process the man told the officer if he ever saw him, he'd kill him. The man then became combative and swung his arms at the officer who used pepper spray to restrain the man. The officer suffered abrasions on his knee and scrape on his right hand.
The Beach Reporter – September 11, 2003
Crime Watch (9/11) - Hermosa Beach
SKATEBOARD ANGER. A young man reportedly cracked his parents' front windshield with his skateboard Sept. 1 at 1:40 p.m. in the 1000 block of Aviation Boulevard. Both the man and his sister were in the car with his parents driving into Hermosa Beach when they all got into an argument about the kids doing drugs. The man demanded his father stop the car so he could get out. In a fit of anger, he hit the back of the car with the skateboard and then walked around to the front and hit the windshield.
DOMESTIC BATTERY. A police officer reportedly arrested a man after he saw him struggling with his longtime girlfriend Aug. 31 at 12:34 a.m. at the corner of 15th Street and Hermosa Avenue. The officer saw the man pulling at the victim, who then screamed for assistance. The officer approached the man and told him to sit down on the curb. He refused and the officer asked two more times before threatening to use pepper spray. The officer then asked the woman what was going on and the man responded, "Nothing, I'm leaving." The man then got up and the officer asked him to sit back down. He refused and the officer grabbed him by the right elbow, laid him on the ground and handcuffed him. The woman then told the officer to leave him alone. The officer told the woman to sit down. She refused and walked toward him. The officer pushed her with his left hand and she fell on the ground. The officer then detained the man in the car and asked the woman why they were struggling. The woman refused to talk, and refused the domestic violence assistance and information the officer offered her. The man told the officer he was trying to get his girlfriend's car keys away from her so she wouldn't drive drunk. The officer was skeptical of his story when he found the car keys in the man's pocket.
ABANDONED BAR TAB. A man reportedly ran up a bar tab using an expired bank card and driver's license at an establishment on the pier plaza Sept. 1 at 8:09 p.m. The man ran up a $126 tab when the bartender asked him to close it because he was cashing out for the day. The bartender ran it through the machine but it came back as declined. By the time he turned around, the man was gone.
HOTEL ROOM BURGLARY. A hotel room in the 1000 block of The Strand was reportedly ransacked and burglarized Sept. 3 between the hours of 1:45 and 2:45 p.m. The hotel patron locked the door and left his room to return to find it ransacked. The burglar stole a briefcase with $500 cash, $90 of currency from Switzerland and a passport.
STOLEN BODY BOARD. A body board was reportedly stolen from a coffee shop in the 1200 block of Hermosa Avenue between 8 p.m. Aug. 23 and 7 a.m. Aug. 24. The owner of the board worked at the coffee shop and put his board in the shop's utility closet for safekeeping. Only employees have a key to access the closet. The employee left it there overnight to find his board valued at $200 missing the next day. The employee watched the surveillance tape and saw his fellow co-worker steal it. He admitted taking it and said he would return it, but has yet to do so.
The Beach Reporter – September 5, 2003
Crime Watch (9/5) - Hermosa Beach
STOLEN BICYCLES. Two bicycles were reportedly stolen from an apartment complex carport on Eighth Street between 6 a.m. Aug. 27 and 7 p.m. Aug. 28. The bikes were locked and secured in the apartment's carport.
STOLEN CASH. A dayplanner containing $376 in cash was reportedly stolen from the first block of 10th Street between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Aug. 23. The victim's rental car was blocked by another car in a hotel parking lot and she walked into the hotel to inform the manager. She returned several hours later to find her dayplanner missing.
FAKE PAYCHECKS. An employee at a grocery store in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway reportedly cashed a fraudulent payroll check for a man Aug. 3 at 1:43 a.m. The check was from Tyler Surfboards in the amount of $274 and the bank returned the check to the store claiming it was a fake check. The bank also notified the store that five other checks from the same Tyler Surfboards had also been cashed there under two different names.
HOUSE BURGLARY. A home in the first block of 14th Street was reportedly burglarized at noon Aug. 24. The couple living there was on their honeymoon when the man's sister called him and told him she was going to come over to the house and take his things. The man immediately called police but officers found no one at the house. According to a neighbor, the sister visited the house the next day and climbed over a wall into the patio. She allegedly stole a pingpong table and a cookbook, all valued at $400.
VIDEO STORE ENCOUNTER. A man accosted another man patronizing a video store in the 700 block of Pier Avenue with his two young daughters Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. The suspect approached the man in an aggressive manner and called him a "loser." The victim then asked the video store employee to call 911. The man is considered to be a suspect of a battery case with the victim, which took place in July.
The Beach Reporter – August 28, 2003
Crime Watch (8/28) - Hermosa Beach
16TH STREET BURGLARY. A home on 16th Street was reportedly burglarized Aug. 19 between the hours of 12:30 and 1:10 p.m. The burglar(s) entered the home through a side door upstairs, and stole a wallet valued at $40 and $40 in cash.
STOLEN BIKE. A bike was reportedly stolen outside a restaurant in the 800 block of Hermosa Avenue Aug. 23 at 8:15 p.m. The victim left the bike valued at $2,000 on the patio in view and later discovered it missing.
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 2600 block of Valley Drive was reportedly burglarized Aug. 18 between 9:03 and 9:15 a.m. The burglar(s) smashed a window and stole the victim's purse. The items stolen and the damage to the window are valued at $855.
EIGHTH STREET BURGLARY. A home in the 100 block of Eighth Street was reportedly burglarized between 10:30 p.m. Aug. 22 and 1:45 a.m. Aug. 23. The victim and several friends went out to a local bar and locked the front door behind them. They returned around midnight. Two of the men left to go out again while one of the victims stayed at home and went to bed. The victim left the front door open so that another friend could get inside the home when he returned. The friend later came home and found clothes strewn about on the floor but thought nothing of it and fell asleep on the couch. He woke the next day and took a taxi home. The victim later woke up and saw the clothing and several items missing including a camera.
HOTEL ROOM FRAUD. A woman reportedly used the credit card number of another woman to rent a hotel room in the 900 block of Aviation Boulevard Aug. 25 at 12:22 p.m. She rented the room online and then checked into the hotel 45 minutes later. Employees became suspicious when the name on the account didn't match the name of the cardholder.
The Beach Reporter – August 21, 2003
Crime Watch (8/21) - Hermosa Beach
MARIJUANA SALE. A young man reportedly sold $20 worth of marijuana to two 13-year-old girls in the 700 block of Fourth Street Aug. 10 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. According to police, one of the girls' older sisters gave her some marijuana and told her she could buy more from her boyfriend. The girls smoked it with a bong bought at a store in town and began to feel the effects 30 minutes later. One of the girls said she began to hallucinate and the paramedics were called to the scene.
DOMESTIC ABUSE. A woman was reportedly hit in the face and choked by her fianc Aug. 13 at 2:50 a.m. in the 2200 block of Hermosa Avenue. The man hit his fiance in the face and then began to choke her, threatening her life and her family's life. The woman told police the man assaulted her two weeks ago as well. The victim is two months pregnant with the couple's child.
BATTERY. A woman reportedly hit her boyfriend in the face three times with a closed fist in the 700 block of Fourth Street Aug. 13 at 7:28 p.m. The couple was drinking beer at their apartment and ran out of it. The man did not have any money to buy more, a verbal argument ensued and the woman hit the man. The couple is in a three-year relationship.
GROCERY STORE BURGLARY. A man reportedly opened the cases of three DVDs and stole the discs from a grocery store in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway Aug. 13 between 1:45 and 1:57 p.m. Police detained the man outside the store.
BIKE/SKATEBOARD STOLEN. A bike and skateboard were reportedly stolen from the 500 block of Eighth Street between 3 p.m. Aug. 7 and 3 p.m. Aug. 14. The victim told police he locked his bike to the rack. The bike is valued at $1,500 and the skateboard is valued at $120.
The Beach Reporter – August 14, 2003
Crime Watch (8/14) - Hermosa Beach
$100 BILL SCAM. Three men were reportedly detained after one of them allegedly pulled a scam on a grocery store cashier in the 700 block of Pier Avenue Aug. 6 at 2:05 p.m. One of the men asked the cashier for a $100 bill in exchange for a $50, two $20s and a $10. The cashier made change; the man began to walk away and then turned around and informed the cashier she had given him a $10 instead of a $100. The cashier gave him the change and realized she had been scammed. She asked her supervisor to count out the drawer. Police detained the men outside the store with $316 in cash and the drawer was about $110 short.
$100 BILL SCAM AGAIN. A man reportedly scammed a car wash in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway out of money Aug. 6 at 2:05 p.m. The young man entered the business and asked the employee if she could give him a $100 bill in exchange for five $20s. The woman agreed and gave him the cash. The man then turned to her and told her she had accidentally given him a $10 instead of a $100 bill. She then gave him a $50 bill, two $20s and $10.
FIREARM ENCOUNTER. A man reportedly encountered a man with a gun in a parking structure in the 1300 block of Hermosa Avenue Aug. 9 at 2:30 a.m. Police responded to the man's reports of shots being fired. The man told police he heard the sound of four or five firecrackers go off and then a man dressed in black approached his car. The man told police the suspect pointed a gun at him. The victim stepped out of his car and ran on foot. He then saw another suspect shoot at a car three times and believed someone may have been shot. Police visited the parking structure and observed no signs of any crime, any subjects or other witnesses. Officers advised the man to contact police when he was sober and the man agreed.
THE RIDE HOME. A man reportedly attacked a woman inside his car at 10th Street and Manhattan Avenue Aug. 6 at 2:15 a.m. According to the woman, she left a bar on the pier plaza intoxicated and decided to drive with a friend of a friend who offered her a ride home. On the way home, the man pulled over and wanted to have sex with the woman. The woman told the man she was not interested. He jumped on her and she yelled, "No," at him. The man got angry and began calling the woman names. The man walked around to the car and demanded she get out. She began looking for her house keys and her boss's house keys, which had fallen under the passenger seat. The man then grabbed her and pulled her out of the car. The man tried to hit the woman but she defended herself by ripping his shirt. The man then drove away. A nearby resident came out of his home and saw the woman crying on the street. The resident suggested she call police and walked her to her own car. The woman drove to the station, but was too upset to file a report. She drove home and returned to the station the next day to report the missing keys.
BAR LINE FIGHT. A man reportedly hit another man in the face while waiting in a line to enter a bar on the pier plaza Aug. 4 at 12:19 a.m. Police saw the two men in line. The suspect lightly kicked the victim in the back of the leg and pretended nothing happened. The victim became upset and the two men got into a verbal argument. The suspect then hit the victim in the face with a closed fist.
The Beach Reporter – August 7, 2003
Crime Watch (8/7) - Hermosa Beach
CAR BURGLARY. A car parked in the 300 block of Longfellow Avenue was reportedly burglarized between 7 p.m. July 28 and 8 a.m. July 29. The burglar(s) stole a backpack, briefcase, wallet and a pair of glasses all valued at about $800.
IDENTITY THEFT. An unknown person reportedly used the credit card number of a person living in the 300 block of 31st Street between midnight July 28 and midnight July 30 to purchase computer memory. The computer company called the victim to verify the $400 purchase. The victim knew nothing about the transaction.
HOME BURGLARY. A home on 11th Court was reportedly burglarized an estimated three times between 7 a.m. June 20 and 7:45 July 26. Police believe the burglar broke into the home by using a duplicate key. The victim left for a weekend vacation and asked the landlord if he could fix a plumbing problem while she was away. She returned home to find several items missing from her home. On July 26, she and a second victim went kayaking. The victim watched the second victim count $120 in cash and put it in his wallet. When they returned to the home and the second victim attempted to retrieve the cash to pay the first victim for the kayaking lesson, they discovered the money missing. On three separate occasions, the victim has noticed CDs and DVDs, both valued at $800, and a drill valued at $200 missing. The burglar has also stolen about $600 in cash.
ATM STOLEN. An ATM machine secured inside a fast-food restaurant in the 1100 block of Aviation Boulevard was reportedly stolen between the hours of 12:20 and 5:30 a.m. July 31. The suspect broke into the establishment by prying open the front door and stole the machine valued at $8,000.
CAR BURGLARY. A 1995 Ford Explorer parked in the 1200 block of Sixth Street was reportedly burglarized between 8:30 p.m. July 29 and 3:30 a.m. July 30. This is the third report of a Ford Explorer being burglarized. All three cars have door keypads as a way of gaining access into the car. The burglar(s) stole a camera and its case valued at $500.
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