Friday update from Los Al P.D.:
Turns out there were three burglaries in the Highlands between 3:40 and 5 pm. Thursday, 8/19/10. [This seems later in the day than I'd expect--too many people getting home from work, etc, I thought] In each case the front door was kicked in to gain access. It was Pine, La Colema Way and Reagan Street.
In one case an 18 year old was startled as the suspect entered the home. She immediately ran into the bathroom, locked the door, called 911, and screamed, which apparently scared the suspect away.
A 20 – 30 year old white male with blonde hair was seen acting suspiciously in the area prior to the crime spree, reportedly driving a non-descript black vehicle.
Anyone with witness information is urged to call LAPD @ 562-431-2255.
(Los Alamitos, 8/20/2010) We’ve received reports from two different Highlands residents of 4 burglaries in Rossmoor Highlands yesterday.
All were near Rossmoor Way, on Pine Reagan, and La Colema.
There was a report of someone going door to door selling burglar alarms the day before, possibly to determine who had alarms.
We had a single break in in Suburbia Estates several years ago after solicitors for a cleaning product had canvased the neighborhood. We also had a corner house broken into earlier this summer.
In the case of the four Highlands homes today, police report the doors were broken or kicked in. It’s not clear if these were front, side, or side garage doors. Side garage doors have been a target in the past.
Advertisement:
“Forewarned is forearmed.”
It may be hot, but you may want to close windows while you’re away. It’s also a good idea to leave a TV or talk radio station that can be heard from the front door on.
Locking the door from the garage into the house when you’re away (or home) isn’t a bad idea either.
Any additional information via a comment is appreciated.
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I did a bit or research and talked with a few local folks and it seems that the perpetrator is of a specific race and the car is a specific color and make. Perhaps we can acquire this information, officially, from Los Al’s finest and put it out for general consumption. I believe that awareness and knowledge by as many citizens as possible, of this invasion of our homes, can only help our fair little metropolis. Thanks for listening.
FYI
Door to door sales is illegal in Los Al unless you have a permit. I caught one of these un-permitted sales creeps shaking down one of my elderly neighbors. She is alone and he was demanding to know her income!
These people usually show up in large groups and are dropped off in a van. The van hovers around the neighborhood as the sales people engage in high pressure sales tactics. These guys have been known to show up after dark. Some are even there to scout out potential theft victims such as listed in Dave’s story above.
If you encounter these guys, call PD right away. They can be reached on the 24 hr. line at (562)594-7232. If it is an emergency, obviously, use 911. Tell the dispatcher that you have subjects in the neighborhood who are soliciting without a permit. Tell the dispatcher that you want an officer to make contact with them asap. They will handle the rest.
The group that I called on immediatly jumped into their van and left when the PD arrived in the area. I later talked to another officer and was told that these groups are seen the most in the Highlands and Carrier Row…not sure why.
I talked to my elderly neighbor afterwards and she was extremely thankful that I had called. She was not able to get away from this large, intimidating individual and she stated that she was scared. By reporting these individuals you are helping your neighbors and sending a message to these groups.
Good advice JHubert. I would like to take it a step further. DO NOT answer the door when you are not expecting anyone. DO NOT put yourself in the position of having to try and get away from a solicitor. Look out your window and if you don’t know the person don’t open the door. Go straight to the phone and call 594-7232, ask the police to check the person out.
I do this all the time. I live in the Highlands and yes people come by all the time. I call the non emergency number above, they send a car right away to check the guy out and most of the time they don’t have a permit.
The process for solicitors is not good in Los Al. I DO NOT want to buy anything from a stranger at my door. I don’t talk to anyone at my door or over the phone. If I want a product I will go to a store and buy it.
I wish it was against the law for any solicitor to knock on my door. I also think it should be against the law for the “walkers” to hang anything on a door knob. An elderly person could have forgotten to lock their door, that becomes a chance for a crime of opportunity.
Because of the cost of mailers, stores are now hiring the “walkers” to pass out door hangers. I have received them from Verizon, Kohls and Pizza places recently. I think the city should take a look at this and regulate it more carefully.
@Stranger at the door
Yes and no. Yes, these walkers are annoying (not as bad as the daily calls from contractors asking me if I want to remodel my home), but they also can be good. For instance we were able to purchase discounts to the 4-Star theater that have saved us a great deal of money, and had we not my summer would have cost me much more than it has.
So, I’m torn on this as I do believe that there is a Constitutional right to privacy (SCOTUS Decisions in: Griswold and Eisenstadt cases, the Loving case, Roe v Wade case).
I do think that everyone should have the ability to put a “no solicitation” notice on their door and have the right to remain undisturbed by these people. Heck, I would even suggest that the City help residents out by making these “stickers” freely available and they say No Solicitation Here By Order Of The City Of Los Alamitos Police Department. Violators Will Be Reported And Prosecuted.
Good points,
We have a National “Do not call Registry”, why not a “Do not knock Registry”. Might be a hard one to enforce. I would like to see the door hangers outlawed…it would put the CPLA out of business. They would have to revert to hanging them on trash cans…oh wait, they already did that. LOL
If anyone would like to register for the do not call registry dial 1(888)382-1222 from the phone you want to register. It works for cell phones too. I believe you are protected from soliciters/telemarketers for about 5 years (?). No more dinner time telephone calls.
I would like to see all of this info added to the Los Al Watch Website. This would be great to send out to those who are on the PD’s email list.
Good tips, Local Guy, JM, Hubie, and Stranger. Fortunately, this sort of thing is rare in our little town, and three in one afternoon is a real exception to the rule.
Here’s the latest from Los Al PD:
It was three burglaries in the Highlands between 3:40 and 5 pm. [This seems later in the day than I'd expect--too many people getting home from work, etc, I thought] In each case the front door was kicked in to gain access. It was Pine, La Colema Way and Reagan Street.
In one case an 18 year old was startled as the suspect entered the home. She immediately ran into the bathroom, locked the door, called 911, and screamed, which apparently scared the suspect away.
A 20 – 30 year old white male with blonde hair was seen acting suspiciously in the area prior to the crime spree, reportedly driving a non-descript black vehicle.
Anyone with witness information is urged to call LAPD @ 562-431-2255.
I’m also posting this info as an update at the top of this post.
updated 10 p.m. Saturday: You can add one more break-in, which brings the total back up to the original 4. The burglary apparently took place about the same time as the others, but the resident was out of town.
It was discovered today (Saturday, 8/21/10) around noon. Another home on Pine, but, unlike the others, this one was south of Rossmoor Way.
Same m.o. in all 4–front door kicked in, cash and jewelry taken. Seems like they head straight to the bedroom for small stuff they can get quick.
I’m told the police are working with a different description of the suspect than the one given earlier.
Regardless, let’s be extra careful for the next few weeks at least. Hopefully an arrest will be made soon.
If you learn anything else that you can confirm, please post it here to inform the community.
The telephone number for the police is
594-7232. Everyone in your household should have this entered in their cell phones and home phones.
We all know when we see a car or person that does not live on our street. When you have that little flash of “I wonder who that is?” in your mind, pick up the phone and call the police.
Between my office on Howard and home in Suburbia I call the PD at least twice or three times a month. If I see someone going door to door (especially Dave) and its not one of the kids in the neighborhood I call.
At the last neighborhood watch meeting in Suburbia we were told to dial 911 when solititors came to the door. I use the other number but we were told to dial 911.
Bottom line is don’t be afraid to call, you do not have to give your name and it may save you or your neighbor from being a victim.