Thursday, November 27, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Weekly Tip - Don't Let the Thief Shop in Your Car!
Vehicle burglaries are reported to local police throughout the year. However, during the holiday season, mall parking lots and parking structures are packed with vehicles that are sometimes stuffed with presents and packages. Just like presents under your family Christmas tree being an invite for a child's curiosity, your car filled with packages is an invitation for theft and auto burglary. Here are some tips to help prevent you from becoming a victim this holiday season:
•Park in well lighted areas.
•Lock your vehicle and set your alarm.
•If you must leave packages in your car, keep them out of sight. Some stores and malls offer to hold your packages while you shop. Pick all of them up when you are done shopping.
•Do NOT make multiple trips to your vehicle. Thieves watch and wait in parking lots targeting persons leaving items in their cars.
•Be aware of your surroundings! Look about and see who is around when you park.
No Parking Enforcement Thanksgiving Night
There will be no overnight parking enforcement on Thanksgiving night, Thursday night to Friday morning, November 27-28, 2014. All other parking violations will be enforced.
Parking permits will be required and overnight enforcement will resume on Friday night, November 28, 2014.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Records Section Closed Thanksgiving Day
The Records Section of the Arcadia Police Department will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, 2014. The Records Section will reopen at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, November 28, 2014.
The lobby will be accessible for emergency assistance and weekend parking permits from the Topek machine. We will NOT be citing for Overnight Parking on Thanksgiving night. A parking permit is not required Thursday night to Friday morning, November 27-28, 2014. Overnight Parking Enforcement will resume on Friday night and permits will be required.
Please see the following post for daily operating hours in the Records Section:
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Holiday Season = Potential Increase in Residential Burglary and Theft
With the holiday season comes the return for potential increase in residential burglary and theft. Over the course of the last week, Arcadia and the surrounding cities have seen residential burglary popping up throughout the area. This screen shot from CrimeMapping.com shows just the residential burglary activity in and near Arcadia from 11/12-18/14. We encourage you to subscribe to CrimeMapping and take advantage of the "Crime Alerts" notification feature. Stay abreast of activity in your neighborhood and the surrounding community.
Please take a look at our recent APD Blog post on Burglary Prevention at Home for tips and additional information. And, as always, please be our eyes and ears in your neighborhoods. The Department has deployed additional officers specifically targeting residential burglary intervention, both in marked and unmarked units, but you know your neighborhood best. If you See Something, Say Something!
Weekly Tip - Shop Smart! Keep an Eye on your Purse and Valuables!
Are you an inviting target for a crime of opportunity? In the past, we have had reports of stolen purses and phones from victims who were shopping, or simply not paying attention to their valuables. Phones and wallets have been left on sales counters, along with purses in baby strollers, each have been scenarios for stolen items.
What can you do to help protect yourself? Start by shopping smart. Always be aware of your surroundings and who is near you. Don't become so engrossed in your shopping or check-out that you fail to see the person sliding up next to you or your cart. Never leave your purse or purchased items unattended in a cart, on a counter, or at a table...not even for "just a minute." Thieves will look for easy targets and persons who may be inattentive to their belongings. That open purse or wallet next to you while you are making your purchase is an invitation for theft.
Keep your purse closed. Don't toss wallets and phones back inside without closing the flap or zipper. Check your phones and put them back on your belt, in your pocket, or zipped in the purse. Setting your phone on the counter to continue a sale is an easy way to forget it.
Be mindful of your personal space. If you are "bumped" on the side or someone just happens to slide up close to you, check your wallet or purse and make sure that you have not become the target of a thief.
Watch your cards! Credit, debit, charge cards are easily "skimmed" by use of portable devices meant to quickly capture your card information. Your information can be later transferred to a magnetic strip on a different card and used for theft. The employee should be sliding your card right in front of you. If there is a need to move to a different register, go with them.
Shop smart and pay attention to who is around you! Keep an eye on your valuables and don't invite a crime of opportunity!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Annual Arcadia Chinese Association Appreciation Luncheon
A big "Thank You" to members of the Arcadia Police Department came today in the form of an early Thanksgiving lunch, provided by the Arcadia Chinese Association. Chief Guthrie was joined by members of the ACA and ACA President Francine Chiu for a photo before lunch. ACA President Chiu took a moment to express gratitude to members of the Department and say "Thank You" for our service. Thanks to the ACA for the great lunch and for taking the time to honor members of our Department!
Arcadia Officer Honored on KNBC's The Challenge
Officer Walter Ashby was honored by KNBC's The Challenge on Sunday night as Hero of the Night. The honor follows his actions, while off-duty, in saving the life of a young drowning victim. Wally pulled the young victim from a pool and performed life-saving CPR on her for over three minutes prior to paramedics arriving. The toddler regained consciousness before being transported to the hospital and she is alive and well today thanks to Wally's actions. The event occurred in early October in Irvine.
Arcadia Police Chief Bob Guthrie wrote in a commendation letter to Wally, "...your actions epitomize what it means to be a police officer. Your courage, decisiveness, and action in the face of adversity are at the heart of everything we have come to hope for and expect from our police officers. And you, Wally, rose to the occasion when it mattered most. I tip my hat to you, Officer Ashby, for a job exceptionally well done. I couldn't be prouder of you."
Great job, Wally!
Great job, Wally!
Friday, November 14, 2014
ROAD CLOSURES for the 61st Annual Festival of Bands
Incident: Road Closures for the 61st Annual Festival of Bands Parade
Contact: Watch Commander, (626) 574-5156
On Saturday, November 15, 2014, the City of Arcadia is hosting the 61st Annual Festival of Bands Parade. Forty high school bands will compete in this prestigious event. There will be a number of street closures associated with the event that may affect vehicular travel. Street closures will be as follows:
- Baldwin Avenue between Huntington Drive and Naomi Avenue – CLOSED for vehicular traffic from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Duarte Road between Golden West and El Monte Avenue – CLOSED of vehicular traffic from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Campus Drive between Santa Anita Avenue and Holly Avenue – CLOSED from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Residents living south of Huntington Drive, north of Duarte Road, east of Baldwin Avenue, and west of Holly Avenue are asked to use the intersection of La Cadena Avenue and Huntington Drive as the primary entrance and exit from the area. Other residents will be allowed into the surrounding areas with proof of residency.
The event will kick-off at 8:40 a.m. with a Dignitary Parade. Bands should step-off at about 9:00 a.m. HERE is the band order of assignment list.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Series of San Gabriel Valley Robberies
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office reports a 33-year-old man convicted of committing residential robberies in the San Gabriel Valley was sentenced today to 374 years to life in state prison.
On July 23, defendant Jose Lewis Avila was found guilty by a jury of nine counts of second-degree robbery, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and one count of child abuse. Jurors also found true special allegations that Avila used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a BB gun, and that he inflicted great bodily injury.
The Arcadia crime occurred shortly after midnight on a 2011 April morning, in the 1100 block of South Third Street. The suspect discharged the BB gun during the robbery, striking the victim in the face while she held her child. See the original Blog post HERE.
The case was investigated by the Alhambra, Arcadia, Monterey Park and San Gabriel Police Departments.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
District Attorney Charges Monterey Park Man with Two Counts of Lewd Acts on a Child
Kwan Y. Chow was arrested by Arcadia Police Officers on Monday night after allegedly molesting a boy inside a bathroom at Dave and Buster's, Arcadia. During the investigation, Chow was identified as molesting a second boy in previous days inside the same restaurant.
The case was presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and Chow was charged today with two counts of Lewd Acts on a Child with a proposed bail of $1,200,000.00. See the LADA News Release for additional information. Chow is due to be arraigned, tomorrow, at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pasadena.
Weekly Tip - Preventing Package Theft
Have you ordered Christmas presents over the phone, via the Internet, or by mail? Chances are that those packages will be delivered straight to your front porch. The majority of deliveries do not require a signature and are generally left at your door, even if no one is home to accept them. This time of year brings out those looking for a crime of opportunity as well as those thieves that actually target your delivery. Thieves will follow or watch for the UPS, Fed Ex or other delivery trucks and then target a home after a delivery is made.
Here are some suggestions for helping to prevent a theft of your packages:
- Use your workplace as the shipping address.
- Track your shipments by phone or on-line so you know what day they should arrive.
- Ask you neighbor to watch for your delivery and then hold the items until you arrive home.
- Keep an eye on your neighborhood and report suspicious persons and vehicles sitting or cruising the area. See Something, Say Something!
- Request a signature delivery option, if available.
- Have the shipment be held at the shipping facility such as a UPS office.
- Utilize a "mailbox" businesses in your town and see if they will accept shipment of your item for a fee.
- If you do not receive your shipment on time, check with the company of origin and confirm the delivery. If the item was delivered and you did not receive it, then report the theft or loss to the original company, the shipping company, and your local police.
These tips are good year round, not just at holiday time!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
News Release: Lewd Act with a Child
Incident: Lewd Act
with a Child
Contact: Watch
Commander – (626) 574-5156
Date / Time of News
Release: November 11, 2014 / Updated at 3:00 P.M.
On November 10, 2014, at
approximately 6:44 P.M., officers of the Arcadia Police
Department were dispatched to the
Westfield Mall located at 400 S. Baldwin Avenue on a report of a sexual battery
involving a minor. The officers also received information the suspect was being detained by
mall security personnel.
Preliminary investigation
determined that the victim was a 10-year-old male who was fondled by the suspect while in
the restroom of “Dave & Busters.” The victim notified his mother soon after the incident
had occurred. The mother chased the suspect as he left the restroom which alerted the
business managers of Dave & Busters. The managers resumed the chase and caught up
with the suspect and detained him. Mall security personnel responded and detained
the suspect until the police arrived. The suspect was identified by the victim and
was placed under arrest for a violation of California Penal Code section – 288(a) –
Lewd Act with a Child (under 14).
The suspect was identified as Kwan Chow, 31-years-old, of Monterey Park. He was transported to the Arcadia City jail for booking and was transferred to the Los Angeles County Inmate Reception Center for housing. Chow’s bail is currently set at $200,000.00.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives have identified an additional 10-year-old male victim who was also fondled in the restroom at Dave & Busters. Chow has also been identified as the suspect in this case. Detectives are looking for additional victims who may have experienced similar circumstances in or around the men’s bathroom at Dave & Busters within the recent past.
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 57-5123, Case # 14-5527. If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the tip page at Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers.
Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of
Police
By: Brett Bourgeous, Sergeant
Veterans Day 2014
Please join us in honoring and saying thanks to all who have served our Nation.
Happy Veterans Day 2014!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Fundraiser for Pomona PD Officer Shaun Diamond
The fundraiser is generously being sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen and is valid at all Southern California locations. Print out the pic posted here and take it with you. On behalf of all or our law enforcement extended family, we thank you!
Arcadia Police Department Honor and Color Guard
The Arcadia Police Department Honor Guard made their debut at the recent Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park. The Honor Guard began to take shape earlier this year, with members being fitted for the specialized uniforms, equipment being procured, and lots of practice. The Honor Guard is comprised of a Lieutenant, a Sergeant, and six Police Officers, all of whom volunteered to be part of the unit.
The APD Honor Guard will participate in law enforcement funerals and services, honoring the deceased for their service and sacrifice. They will also be used for services of retired Arcadia Police Department members.
Not just to be used in line of duty or law enforcement deaths and memorial services, but the APD Honor Guard will proudly participate in ceremonies requiring a Color Guard. The Color Guard will present our National, State, and City flags at City Council and civic events, sporting events, and other requested venues.
Four members of the Arcadia Police Department Honor Guard are pictured below. Please visit the APD Facebook photo album page where we will post pictures of the Honor Guard and Color Guard.
Friday, November 7, 2014
The Arcadia Police Department Announces a Major Upgrade to its MyPD App with New Features and Updated Design
The Arcadia Police Department announces its first major app
update since launch: MyPD version 3, adding new user features, upgraded
integrations, and a new sleek user interface.
The updated app is available now to the public. Current
users can opt-in to the app update, or new users can download it now by
searching the iPhone or Android app stores for MyPD or My Police Department.
The app includes about 10 new features. Some new features
include information for victims, traffic updates, missing children, and similar
resources. Older features were also updated. The app is easy to use with
well-designed icons which are easy to browse from the main screen or slide up
menu.
“The Public can get updates from the police department as
push notifications” said Chief Bob Guthrie. “We can send the notifications
through our app dashboard or through other social media platforms within the
app. We encourage users to opt in to
messages if they want to be informed quickly of updates.”
Sending in tips about crimes or other quality of life issues
is another way citizens can use the Arcadia Police Department MyPD app. It allows the user to either attach their
contact information or send it anonymously.
Photos and GPS locations of incidents can also be attached from either
the phones gallery or live camera.
While the app links to or integrates with some social media,
it is not another social network. There are no ads on the app and no social account
is necessary to use MyPD. APD has been using
social media like Facebook and Twitter for quite a few years now. The MyPD app is not meant to replace those or
be another social network for people to join. It is a resource for the public, so when they
need to send a crime tip, or want to research something, they have it
available.
MyPD is free for the public, contains no advertising, and
users do not need to share personal information or set up an account to use the
app. Any information sharing is
optional.
Citizens looking to connect with the Arcadia Police Department should
search for “MyPD” in their app store. Once the app is downloaded and the agency
chosen, it will always open to the Arcadia Police Department and its resources.
For additional information about the My Police Department app users can visit:
MyPDapp.com or ArcadiaPD.org.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Weekly Tip - Home Burglary Prevention
Residential burglary prevention continues to be a focus of the Arcadia Police Department. Increased patrol presence, Investigators working surveillance, follow-up on leads/tips, and recovered stolen property, are all pieces to a much larger puzzle when it comes to preventing residential burglaries and property crime. One of the most important pieces to this puzzle is the resident. It is very important to discourage the would be thief and make their job as difficult, time consuming, and as noisy as possible.
Here are a few quick tips to help keep your home safe:
•Close and lock your windows and doors! Thieves look for an easy target.
•Lock your garage door. Thefts from garages are common and it offers ready access to pry tools.
•Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed so that windows and doors are visible.
•Maintain your home and make it looked lived in. Arrange for care if you leave on vacation.
•Don't leave newspapers, mail and door hanger materials in place. Arrange for a trusted friend or neighbor to collect these items for you.
•Know your neighbors! Be familiar with cars, faces and who belongs in your neighborhood.
•Leave different lights on when you leave. Use timers when gone overnight.
•How about a radio with a talk show station tuned in when you are gone?
•Use window stops/pins to prevent windows and sliding doors from being opened.
•Maintain lists of account numbers, valuable item serial numbers and important phone numbers. Duplicate the list and maintain a copy elsewhere. Video or photo your belongings. This aids in property recovery as well as insurance replacement.
•Get an ALARM. Even simple alarms that are not connected to a central system are a deterrent.
•Ask and look for helpful tips. Your local police agency will usually offer home inspections and there are plenty of websites that offer prevention tips and ideas.
•Watch for and REPORT suspicious persons and activity. Most arrests that are made for burglary are not from a report by an alarm company, but rather from a local resident. If you see someone that does not belong in your neighborhood or on a neighbor's property, call the police.
If you return home and believe your home has been burglarized, do not enter the home. Call the police and wait out front. Tell the Dispatcher of your observations and that you have not searched your home. Chances are that the burglar is gone, but you don't want to confront them if avoidable. Entering the home may also destroy certain types of evidence that Officers will be looking for.
Here are a couple of links to sites with prevention tips and information; Crime Doctor and the Burglary Prevention Council. You can also contact the APD Community Outreach Office at (626) 821-2648 for prevention tips and information on Neighborhood Watch.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Three Arrested for Residential Burglary in Arcadia
Arcadia Police Officers arrested three male adults yesterday morning for suspicion of Residential Burglary. Moments after hearing a knock at the front door, a resident in the 11oo block of Altura Terrace heard a rear sliding glass door being opened. The resident walked into the bedroom and confronted a male standing inside the open sliding door. The suspect fled out the door without saying anything and, without taking any property. The resident saw the suspect run to a “tan” car and flee the area. This occurred at about 8:48 am, Monday, November 3, 2014. The crime was reported to APD but no suspects were located.
Later in the morning on Monday, November 3, 2014, at about 11:45 am, a patrol officer came across a tan Lexus at Encanto Drive and Golden West Avenue. The tan Lexus had expired tabs and was not registered locally. The officer conducted a traffic stop and contacted two males in the vehicle. A third male was seen running away from the area of the traffic stop and he was detained at Hugo Reid Primary School by assisting officers. During the investigation, officers learned of an attempted Residential Burglary having occurred nearby, just minutes prior to the traffic stop.
Based on witness accounts and evidence found inside the vehicle, officers arrested all three males who were later booked at the Arcadia City Jail on suspicion of Residential Burglary with a bail of $100,000.00 each. Arrested was Erren W. Kelly, 19 years old from Rialto, Creig D.R. Leagons, 21 years old from Pasadena, and Deandre L. Huston, 20 years old from Pasadena.
This is a good example of community and officers working together to help prevent crime. Remember, if you “See Something, Say Something” in order to better assist your police department.
Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5150. If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the tip page at Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers.
Offices Dedicated in Memory of Two APD Family
Plaques were recently added to the entry way of two offices here at the Arcadia Police Department. The plaques are dedicated to the memory of two past APD employees who after losing their battles with cancer, were taken too early from us.
Mike Daleo was our first, and long-time Crime Analyst who passed away in 2010. Mike was also a Reserve Police Officer for over three decades with APD (pictured left). Mike's plaque hangs in front of the Crime Analysis Unit.
Luz "Lucy" Martinez was known for her smile and friendly nature she brought to APD as a Records Technician for almost fourteen years. Lucy passed away earlier in 2014, also succumbing to cancer (pictured below). Lucy's plaque hangs at the entry of our Records Section.
Both Mike and Lucy are greatly missed and will always be remembered as part of the APD family.
VOTE Today!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 is the day for the General Election. Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm. Visit theLos Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk website for additional information on the elections.
Forgot your polling place? Not a problem...click HERE to locate your LA County polling location.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Arcadia Police Department Receives Grant for Special Traffic Enforcement and Crash Prevention
The Arcadia Police Department has been awarded a $130,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcement and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries. The Arcadia Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.
The Arcadia Police Department benefits from this grant by enhancing the department’s current traffic philosophy that embraces educating our community regarding traffic safety and enforcing hazardous traffic violations that place the city’s residents and visitors at risk. As with last year, the grant will provide advanced, specialized training for Arcadia Police Department personnel and will create even more opportunities for our officers to be visible throughout the community. We have every reason to believe the combined efforts of the Office of Traffic Safety and the Arcadia Police Department will have an impact in reducing the number of people injured or killed in traffic collisions.
After falling dramatically between 2006 and 2010, the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions saw slight increases in 2011 and 2012. Particularly worrisome are recent increases in pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities and the dangers of distracting technologies. This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk and drugged driving and speeding.
“California’s roadways are still among the safest in the nation,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “But to meet future mobility, safety, and sustainability objectives, we must create safer roadways for all users. The Arcadia Police Department will be using these and other resources to reach the vision we all share – Toward zero deaths, every 1 counts.”
Activities that the grant will fund include:
- Educational presentations
- DUI checkpoints
- DUI saturation patrols
- Motorcycle safety enforcement
- Distracted driving enforcement
- Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement
- Speed, red light, and stop sign enforcement
- Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders
- Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders
- Specialized DUI and drugged driving training such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE)
- Court “sting” operations to cite individuals driving from DUI court after ignoring their license suspension or revocation
- Stakeout operations to observe the “worst-of-the-worst” repeat DUI offender probationers with suspended or revoked driver licenses
Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Robert T. Guthrie
Chief of Police
By: Captain Paul Foley
Operations Division Commander
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Time for a Change - Clocks Fall Back Tonight!
Set your clocks back one hour tonight before you go to bed. Officially, the time change is at 2:00 a.m., Sunday, November 2, 2013. Gain an hour of sleep and wake refreshed!
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