Hot Weather, Open Windows = Potential Victim

With the warm weather, it is not uncommon to open windows in your home to get fresh, cool air inside. Please remember, open windows leave less barriers between you and someone attempting to gain entry into your home to commit theft or other crimes.  Be aware of any windows you leave open, pay attention to them when open, and close-up before going to bed.  There are many products available like window locks and stops that can be used to limit the amount a window may be opened. Take a look online or at a local hardware store.  You may also consider an alarm as a great option.

A fortunate victim heard blinds being moved through an open window late last night and scared off a would-be suspect from the home.  The living room, louver windows were only left ajar, but enough for the suspect to reach inside after cutting the screen.  This occurred in the 800 block of Fairview Avenue shortly after midnight this morning.  There was nothing taken and the suspect did not make entry other than with his hand.

The suspect was described as a teenage male, Asian, 15-16 years old, 5'-03", 120 lbs, dark hair, wearing a black and white baseball cap, white t-shirt with 3/4 black sleeves.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5150.  You can also submit crime tips and information through our APD app, or via text, phone, or web to LA Regional Crime Stoppers, 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by clicking on the "Submit a Tip" button on the APD Blog side bar.

 

Robbery - News Release

Incident:  Robbery

Date and Time of Release:  August 28, 2013, 1:55 P.M.

On August 28, 2013, at approximately 9:32 A.M., the Arcadia Police Department received a call of a robbery that had just occurred in the 100 block of south First Avenue.  When the officers arrived at the scene, it was confirmed that a robbery had occurred.  There were no injuries and no weapons seen.

Based on the preliminary investigation, a suspect described as an African-American male, 6’00”, wearing a black shirt and white pants entered a business and demanded cash from the employee.  The victim gave the suspect $50.00 of U.S. Currency that was in the cash register.  The suspect then fled southbound on First Avenue in a white 4 door Honda out of sight. 

The case is currently under investigation.  Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5150, case #13-4062.

You can also submit crime tips and information via text, phone, or web to LA Regional Crime Stoppers, 800-222-TIPS (8477).

  

Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police

By: Vaughn Whalen, Sergeant – Operations Division

Refer to Case: 13-4062

Weekly Tip - School Zone Traffic Laws & Safety



The Arcadia Police Department Traffic Bureau hopes this 2013-2014 school year will be exciting and successful. With that in mind, we would like to remind all students and parents of the shared responsibility they have in understanding and obeying traffic laws that help maintain safety in and around our school zones. For this purpose, we have provided a list of the most commonly violated traffic laws in our City’s school zones, allowing you to make a conscious and informed effort to create a safe environment for your fellow students, and or your children.

PARKING LAWS

California Vehicle Code section 21458(a) describes rules for curb markings.

1. RED Curb indicates no stopping, standing, or parking, whether the vehicle is attended or unattended, (No Student Drop Off or Pick Up in Red Zones)

2. YELLOW

Curb indicates stopping for the loading or unloading of passengers or freight (20 Minutes For Material & 3 Minutes For Passengers)

3. WHITE Curb indicates stopping for the loading or unloading of passengers (3 Minutes for Passengers)

4. GREEN Curb indicates time limit parking specified by local ordinance (24 & 30 Minute Zones)

5. BLUE Curb indicates parking limited exclusively to the vehicles of disabled persons

V.C. 22500(H) DOUBLE PARKING

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked or standing at the curb or edge of a highway (Often seen as parents drop off/pick up children in the lanes of traffic)

V.C. 22500(b) Park in Cross Walk

Prohibits the stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle in a crosswalk

V.C. 22500(e) Park in Front of Public Drive

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle in front of a public driveway

V.C. 22500(i) Bus Zone

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle alongside a curb authorized for the loading and unloading of passengers of a bus, when indicated by a sign or red paint on the curb.

V.C. 22502 Parking Over 18” from Right Hand Side of Curb / Parking on Wrong Side of Street

Every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway…shall be stopped or parked with the right hand wheels of such vehicle parallel with and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb, except that motorcycles shall be parked with at least one wheel or fender touching the right-hand curb.

V.C. 22514 Park Near Fire Hydrant

No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. EXCEPT, If the vehicle is attended by a licensed driver who is seated in the front seat and who can immediately move such vehicle in case of necessity.

Side Note—If the curb next to the fire hydrant is painted red, the vehicle stopping or parking to facilitate student pickup or drop off could still be cited for stopping/parking in a red zone

ENFORCEMENT

Officers commonly enforce parking laws in school zones by means of video enforcement. Officers may use video cameras to record violations as they occur and then mail the registered owner of the violating vehicle a citation for the observed violation. It is important to remember that the registered owner is the person receiving the citation, not the driver of the vehicle. The registered owner is responsible to resolve the citation. If parking citations are not cleared, either by dismissal or payment, the registered owner may not be able to renew their vehicle’s registration until the citation has been cleared by the DMV. Vehicles that have five or more citations on file are subject to impound, per California Vehicle Code section 22651(i)(1). The enforcement of parking restrictions and traffic laws in our school zones helps maintain vehicle and pedestrian safety, reminds drivers and pedestrians of their responsibility to share the roadway, and hopefully serves as a deterrent to prevent persons from future rule breaking.

MOVING & NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS

V.C. 22101(d) Disobey Traffic Control Devices (No Left Turn, No Turn on Red, Yield, or No U-turn Signs at an Intersection)

When official traffic control devices are placed as required in subdivision (b) or (c), it shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle to disobey the directions of such official traffic control devices

V.C. 21461(a) Failure to Obey a Posted Sign (No left turn, No U-Turn, No Student Drop Off Signs, etc)

It is unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to fail to obey a sign or signal, or to fail to obey a device erected or maintained by lawful authority of a public body or official.

V.C. 22103 No U-turn in Residential District

No person in a residential district shall make a U-turn when any other vehicle is approaching from either direction within 200 feet, except at an intersection when the approaching vehicle is controlled by an official traffic control device.

V.C. 21950(a) Drivers Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk

The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

V.C. 21950(b) Pedestrian to Exercise Due Care

This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

V.C. 21950(c) Drivers to Exercise Due Care

The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of pedestrians

V.C. 21954(a) Pedestrians Outside of Crosswalks

Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.

V.C. 21955 Jaywalking

Pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers. (Example: Duarte Road between Santa Anita & El Monte = Jaywalking)

V.C. 21100.3 Disobey a Crossing Guard

It is unlawful for any person to disobey the traffic directions of a person appointed or authorized by local authority to regulate traffic pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 21000 when such appointee is wearing an official insignia issued by the local authority and is acting in the course of his appointed duties.

V.C. 22350 Unsafe Speed (School Zone)

When signs are posted for a “School Zone—When Children Present”, the speed limit is reduced to 25 MPH. This applies whenever children are present (Before, During & After School).

V.C. 23123(a) Talking on Cell Phone While Driving (18 + = Adult) & V.C. 23124 Cell Phone Under 18 Yrs.

Adult shall not drive a vehicle while using a wireless telephone, unless hands free. Minors may not use cell or hands free device.

V.C. 23123.5 Texting While Driving

A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communication device to write, send or read texts.

H&S 118948(a) Smoking in Vehicle

It is unlawful for a person to smoke a pipe, cigar, or cigarette in a motor vehicle, whether in motion or at rest, in which there is a minor (someone under 18 years old). For the purpose of this section, “To smoke” means to have in one’s immediate possession a lighted pipe, cigar, or cigarette containing tobacco or any other plant.

SEATBELT LAWS

The driver and all occupants of a moving vehicle must properly wear safety belts, as they were designed to be worn. The shoulder strap must be worn over shoulders, not under.

V.C. 21212(a) Helmet Laws

Persons under 18 years of age must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet for bicycles, skateboards, roller

This flyer can also be viewed on the AUSD website.

Sgt. Brett Bourgeous Traffic Bureau (626)574-5475

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 18 - 24, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_8.18.13.pdf

Weekly Tip - Kids are Headed Back to School!

Arcadia schools are back in session next week: Arcadia High School on Tuesday, August 27th and the elementary/middle schools return on Wednesday, August 28th. The Arcadia Unified School District calendars can be found HERE. This means we need to be aware of the children during our commutes throughout the day. Allow extra time for your drive if you pass near a school. Traffic will be heavier than normal during the first few weeks of school as parents grow accustomed to drop-off and pick-up routes for our schools. Be part of the solution, not the problem!

•Slow down!

•Allow extra time for your travel.

•Be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists.

•Don't double park or violate parking restrictions!


HERE is a list of School Zone Traffic Laws.

Weekly Activity Highlights for July 28 - August 10, 2013

July 28 - August 3, 2013
http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/755241482013weekly_7.28.13.pdf

August 4 - 10, 2013
http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_8.4.13.pdf

Weekly Tip - Crosswalks, Pedestrians, and Right-of-Way

A common concern that comes to the attention of the Traffic Bureau is drivers failing to yield to pedestrians. Pedestrian actions as well as drivers actions are governed by the Vehicle Code. Drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections, even when there is no marked crosswalk. Use caution when approaching a crosswalk and if you have time to safely stop, yield to the pedestrian waiting to cross. Remember, if the pedestrian has made eye contact with you, they are probably ready to cross. If the roadway is divided, allow the pedestrian to walk past the center line or median before pulling through. If it is an undivided roadway, allow the pedestrian to walk well past the half way point in the road. Always check the curbs and look to see if someone is "darting" off the curb or entering the crosswalk late. Drivers and pedestrians both need to exercise caution and courtesy. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. Approach with caution and make sure the roadway and crosswalk have cleared.

Turning traffic at intersections is also dangerous for pedestrians. Even though you may have a green as a driver, you must still yield to pedestrians. Drivers making right turns must look and allow the pedestrian to step off on the green. Drivers making left turns across the intersection must make sure that not only is oncoming traffic clear, but that there are not pedestrians in the crosswalk in the path of their turn. Again, use courtesy and common sense. If the ped is well across the intersection or past the median point, you may complete your turn. If the ped is approaching you or on your side of the roadway, YIELD to them!

The DMV has a page dedicated to right of way rules regarding pedestrians, crosswalks, and other situations. Take a look for additional information.

Pedestrians outside of a crosswalk or unmarked intersection are also held responsible by the Vehicle Code. The pedestrian may only cross the road when safe to do so and must yield to traffic. The pedestrian may not cross between two signalized intersections. This is what is known as "jaywalking".

Weekly Tip - Help Prevent Auto Burglary

Thieves look for easy and inviting targets when it comes to selecting a vehicle to burglarize or steal from. It is up to you to make every effort to prevent your car from being targeted. Here are some basic tips that will make your vehicle a little less inviting to a thief:

•LOCK your car!

•Always park in well lighted areas

•Install motion lights in your driveway

•Install and use a vehicle alarm

•DO NOT leave valuables in plain view

•Leave all items of value at home if possible

•Look around when you park. Notice anyone or anything suspicious? Write down license plates and descriptions. Alert on-site security or staff and CALL the police.

Many auto burglaries or thefts from cars occur right in a residential driveway and too often it is because the vehicle was never locked. Arrests of some suspects have revealed they only target cars that have been left unlocked, walking up and down a street trying car doors all the way. Take the time to roll your windows up and secure your vehicle.

Other thieves target victims by watching what is placed inside a trunk or hatch. If you plan on stopping by the gym, park, or elsewhere after work, take the time before you leave to place your belongings safely in the trunk. Don't wait until you park to then transfer your laptop, purse, bag, or briefcase to the trunk. Thieves may be watching and targeting your car.

These are just a few tips to help prevent you from becoming a victim of auto burglary. Be proactive, look around, and most importantly, don't hesitate to call the police if you see something or someone suspicious. Don't become a victim!