Tag: Burglary

Dozens of guns taken by 16-year-old ‘slithering through’ security bars, Florida cops say

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A 16-year-old slithered through the security bars of a Florida gun store and made off with 37 guns, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office says.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office photo

A 16-year-old boy was able to heist more than three dozen guns from a store by using his willowy build to slither between the door’s security bars, according to investigators in North Florida.

The total value of the theft came to $25,859.63, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in a May 23 news release.

Why the boy wanted 37 guns was not revealed, but only 34 have been recovered, the sheriff’s office said.

“The investigation is ongoing into the other missing three,” officials said.

The teen was arrested Wednesday, May 22, nearly a month after deputies recovered most of the guns, officials said. The boy lives in Palm Coast.

“A source close to the investigation located the stolen weapons and turned them into detectives. The handguns, magazines, and long guns were positively identified as belonging to Pioneer Guns & Ammo,” the sheriff’s office said.

Pioneer Guns & Ammo discovered the burglary around 8 a.m. on March 27, after a neighboring business noticed the store’s door was broken. The business is near Bunnell, about a 60-mile drive south from Jacksonville.

“Evidence at the scene indicated the burglary occurred at 2:15 a.m. Surveillance camera footage showed the suspect entering the closed business by breaking a glass door and slithering through the security bars,” the sheriff’s office said.

“After forcing open a display case, the suspect stole multiple handguns and two long guns.”

Traces of blood were found, indicating the suspect cut himself during the burglary, officials said.

Investigators didn’t say if the teen was a person of interest before or after the guns were found, but a digital forensics unit “discovered incriminating text messages” on his cell phone, officials said.

“Additionally, DNA experts matched (his) DNA with the DNA left at the crime scene during the burglary,” officials said.

The teen was arrested and charged with “burglary while armed with a firearm and grand theft over $20,000 with damage over $1,000,” officials said.

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Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.

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Mark Price

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May 24, 2024
Top Oakland restaurateur reeling after dual burglaries Friday

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OAKLAND — Nelson German, renowned chef and owner of alaMar Dominican Kitchen in downtown Oakland, is thinking of closing his acclaimed restaurant following back-to-back burglaries last Friday.

“In just an hour and a half, we were hit twice and that devastated us. To wake up to that, to see two people just taking everything from the bar, filling up garbage bins full of our products, things that we need to survive…” Chef German said.

Surveillance footage captured the moments when the perpetrators broke into his establishment, making off with approximately $6,000 worth of liquor. This marks the eighth time that his business has been targeted by burglars.

“It was heartbreaking … people know me. I’m always the one that’s uplifting others, always happy, always has a smile on my face but this is the first time I’ve felt deflated, really down and kind of out,” German said.

In response to the incidents, German took to social media to express his frustration, shedding light on the ongoing challenges faced by small business owners in the neighborhood.

“I’m exhausted. I’m tired … I just feel super bad about what’s happening and not just for us but others too who’ve been hit and it hurts us. This is our baby,” German said in a video posted to social media.

Despite the setbacks, Chef German remains committed to his dream of sharing his Dominican heritage in the Bay Area. However, he admitted that he is considering leaving Oakland if the situation does not improve.

“We’re the only Dominican restaurant on the West Coast and there are a lot on the East Coast, where I’m from. But here we’re the only ones so we’re super unique. There’s nothing like it and it makes me happy to be in this place for ten years,” he said.

In a show of solidarity, customers turned out in large numbers on Mother’s Day to support alaMar and its owner. Doris Valdivieso and her family, returning from an outing at the Oakland Zoo, stopped by to show their support for the struggling restaurant.

“What a shame! Because these are small businesses that need to sell in order to survive and it’s always hard with all this crime because people think twice before coming,” Valdivieso said.

Despite the challenges, Chef German finds hope in the support of the community, expressing gratitude for the opportunity Oakland has provided him. While the future remains uncertain, German remains committed to his community.

“Oakland gave me this and it made me realize my dreams so I would always be grateful to Oakland and I wanna stay here and I wanna expand but it’s a hard thing to say where to go. I haven’t really thought about it ’cause my heart is still here even though it’s broken right now. But you never know — but the community doesn’t want me to go.”

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Jose Martinez

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May 12, 2024
‘We would have shared’: Beloved plants stolen from Sacramento restaurant owner

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A Sacramento restaurant shared video Sunday of a bizarre theft: Someone stealing plants off their patio. The owner of Colo’s Southern Café – who asked to be referred to as Mrs. T – said she arrived at work Saturday morning and realized something wasn’t right.“My plants that normally are against the gate over here and on the table were missing, along with table and chairs,” she said.Video from the security system shows someone inside their gated patio space, loading the large specialty plants into a recycling bin.“It’s crazy because we get so many plants and so many flowers, if they would have asked, hey, we would have shared,” she said.Mrs. T loves plants, caring for them and sharing them with her guests. She said the theft hurt knowing the time, resources and intention put into making the patio space a relaxing place for her and her customers. “It’s something for the community,” she said. “We work hard to make sure that our things are right.”She said they’ve had multiple issues with theft but that taking the plants hurt.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

A Sacramento restaurant shared video Sunday of a bizarre theft: Someone stealing plants off their patio. The owner of Colo’s Southern Café – who asked to be referred to as Mrs. T – said she arrived at work Saturday morning and realized something wasn’t right.

“My plants that normally are against the gate over here and on the table were missing, along with table and chairs,” she said.

Video from the security system shows someone inside their gated patio space, loading the large specialty plants into a recycling bin.

“It’s crazy because we get so many plants and so many flowers, if they would have asked, hey, we would have shared,” she said.

Mrs. T loves plants, caring for them and sharing them with her guests. She said the theft hurt knowing the time, resources and intention put into making the patio space a relaxing place for her and her customers.

“It’s something for the community,” she said. “We work hard to make sure that our things are right.”

She said they’ve had multiple issues with theft but that taking the plants hurt.

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April 28, 2024
Minnesota state senator arrested on suspicion of burglary

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MINNEAPOLIS — A state senator and former broadcast meteorologist was arrested on suspicion of burglary early Monday in the northwestern Minnesota city of Detroit Lakes, police said.

Democratic Sen. Nicole Mitchell, 49, of Woodbury, was being held in the Becker County Jail on suspicion of first-degree burglary. Formal charges were still pending Monday afternoon, Detroit Lakes Police Chief Steve Todd said.

Mitchell did not immediately return a call left on the jail’s voicemail system for inmates. It’s not clear if she has an attorney who could comment on her behalf. The police chief said he didn’t know of one.

Mitchell was arrested while the Senate is on its Passover break. Her arrest comes at an awkward time for Senate Democrats, who hold just a one-seat majority with four weeks left in the legislative session. Her absence would make it difficult to pass any legislation that lacks bipartisan support.

Mitchell worked as a meteorologist with the U.S. military and for KSTP-TV and Minnesota Public Radio before she was elected to the Senate in 2022 from a suburban St. Paul district. She still serves as lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, commanding a weather unit, her official profile says. She worked for The Weather Channel earlier in her career, her profile says.

Dispatchers received a 911 call at 4:45 a.m. from a homeowner about “an active burglary in process at her residence,” Todd said in an interview. Officers searched the home and arrested Mitchell, Todd said.

The police chief said he could provide few other details because the case was still under investigation. He said he was waiting to hear back from the county attorney’s office, and that a complaint detailing the allegations might not get filed until Tuesday.

Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the case.

Public records and an obituary posted by a Detroit Lakes funeral home show that Mitchell’s father, who died last month, and stepmother lived on the same block of the same road in Detroit Lakes as where the senator was arrested. The stepmother did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Mitchell’s arrest took Senate leaders by surprise. The Senate Democratic Caucus said in a statement that it’s “aware of the situation and has no comment pending further information.”

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Johnson, of East Grand Forks, said he was shocked but knew very few details.

“The public expects Legislators to meet a high standard of conduct,” Johnson said in a statement. “As information comes out, we expect the consequences to meet the actions, both in the court of law, and in her role at the legislature.”

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April 22, 2024
Suspects break into home of Real Friends of WeHo’s Joey Zauzig

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LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the TransLatin@ Coalition commemorated a significant milestone as it marked the launch of its 15th Anniversary Campaign during a press conference held in Los Angeles. The event also served as a platform to unveil the organization’s 2023 Annual Report, shedding light on its journey, accomplishments, and ongoing commitments.

Led by Bamby Salcedo, President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, the press conference highlighted the perilous situations faced by transgender and Latinx individuals in their home countries, where they often confront insurmountable violence.

Salcedo emphasized the harsh reality that many flee to cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco seeking asylum, only to encounter further violence and danger, often leading to deportation and, tragically, sending them back to potential harm or death.

A poignant moment of the event was the unveiling of a new logo commemorating the organization’s 15th anniversary, aptly dubbed their “quinceañera.” This symbolizes not only a milestone but also a renewed commitment to advocacy and support for the TransLatin@ community.

In a groundbreaking announcement, Salcedo revealed plans for a $35 million state of the art multiservice and multipurpose space aimed at providing a safe and secure space for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. With $20 million already secured, this initiative underscores the organization’s dedication to addressing the pressing needs of the community.

The TransLatin@ Coalition, founded in 2009 by a group of transgender and gender nonconforming immigrant women in Los Angeles, has evolved into a nationally recognized organization with a presence in 10 states across the U.S. It offers direct services to transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex individuals in Los Angeles, with a focus on empowering and improving the quality of life for its members.

Since its inception, the organization has achieved numerous milestones, including the establishment of the Center for Violence Prevention and Transgender Wellness in 2015, the opening of the first-ever TransLatin@ office in 2016, and the launch of the #TransPolicyAgenda in 2019.

The TransLatin@ Coalition’s advocacy efforts have also extended to legislative triumphs, such as the passage of AB2218 in 2020, which allocates grant funding for transgender wellness and equity programs, and supporting bills like AB1163 and AB 1487, aimed at advancing transgender rights.

With the recent expansion to include the El Monte site and the opening of a new building on Sunset, the TransLatin@ Coalition continues to broaden its reach and impact, reaffirming its commitment to serving the community and creating inclusive spaces where history is made and celebrated.

“Beautiful and amazing people, who are trans, gender non-conforming, or intersex, please know that you are beautiful and amazing and that you are valued. Do not feel alone. There is a whole movement that is fighting for you. Continue to assert your presence within the tapestry of our society. We love you, we see you, we thank you,” Salcedo told the Blade.

As the organization looks ahead to the next 15 years and beyond, its mission to advocate for the specific needs of the TransLatin@ community remains steadfast, guided by values of altruism, respect, transparency, and collaboration.

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April 9, 2024
Old Town vegan bakery targeted in second burglary | VIDEO

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ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Thursday, March 21, 2024 3:57AM

The owner of Sweet Vegan Bakes on North Avenue in Old Town is concerned after a burglar targeted her small business for a second time.

CHICAGO (WLS) — After being targeted in a second burglary, the owner of an Old Town bakery is dealing with thousands in losses and damages.

Surveillance video from “Sweet Vegan Bakes” on West North Avenue shows the recent.

A burglar shatters the glass door before making off with the cash register and other equipment.

The bakery’s owner says she’s frustrated.

She said she plans to keep the business doors locked during operating hours moving forward, and she will be letting customers in as they arrive.

No further information from Chicago police about the crime was immediately available.

Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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WLS

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March 20, 2024
Burglars reportedly hit Paul Pierce’s L.A. home, make off with $100,000, luxury watches

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More than $100,000 in cash, luxury watches and a safe were reportedly stolen from the San Fernando Valley home of Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Pierce last week.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to The Times on Tuesday that officers responded to a burglary around 9 a.m. Friday on the Woodland Hills block where Pierce lives. “Unknown items” were stolen, according to the LAPD, and no arrests have been made.

TMZ first reported that Pierce’s house had been burglarized on Friday while the 10-time NBA All-Star was not home.

The LAPD declined to comment on whether the incident may be connected to a growing trend of “burglary tourism,” in which thieves from South America enter the United States for the purpose of committing robberies, typically in wealthy neighborhoods.

A former standout player at Inglewood High, Pierce was a first-round draft pick for the Boston Celtics in 1998. He was named the MVP of the 2008 NBA Finals, in which the Celtics defeated the Lakers in six games for the only championship of Pierce’s career.

After 15 seasons in Boston, Pierce spent a year each with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, then played two years with the Clippers before retiring after the 2016-17 season. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2021.

After his retirement from the NBA, Pierce served as a basketball analyst for ESPN and more recently was a cast member on the Fox reality series “Stars on Mars.”

Last year, Pierce reached a $1.4-million settlement agreement with the Securities and Exchanges Commission over alleged unlawful crypto promotion. Pierce admitted to no wrongdoing in making the settlement.

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Chuck Schilken

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March 19, 2024
Brazen back-to-back burglaries hit East Bay businesses

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OAKLAND — East Bay police are investigating two brazen burglaries in two days and about four miles apart.

Surveillance footage obtained by KPIX showed thieves on Thursday using a van to rip out the front door and drag a safe out of Grand Jewelry Repair on Grand Avenue, near Lake Merritt in Oakland. That theft happened at around 3:45 a.m. Footage showed five burglars in two vehicles.

The store owner’s son, Christopher Tran, said the thieves first pried a door open with a crowbar. Then, they attached a rope to the metal gate and pulled it off with a van.

Once inside the store, burglars used the same rope to try to drag a large safe out.

“But it snapped. So they took out a heavy metal chain, put that over the safe and that was when they were able to drag it out,” Tran said.

It took the thieves quite a while to secure the heavy safe to the back of the van.

“The safe — they couldn’t quite get it into the utility truck. So it was dragging, so you see a bunch of sparks,” Tran said. “As they were getting onto the freeway, P.D. was right behind them so I think that’s why they kind of dropped it because it’s heavy so it was weighing down the van.”

The burglars took off and left the safe in the middle of the road. Police recovered the safe, which contained thousands of dollars in jewelry and watches.

The jewelry repair shop also experienced significant damage when the burglars dragged the safe through the store. The owner, Mr. Tran was in tears when he saw the damage on Thursday.

“This shop, 34 years, all my life in there. I raised my kids. But now, I don’t know if we’re going to come back,” Mr. Tran said.

“Now, he’s thinking about retirement. The only thing that sucks is it’s more like a forced retirement because he doesn’t feel safe,” said the younger Tran.

It’s the second costly burglary in three years at Grand Jewelry Repair. Tran, an immigrant who escaped the war in Vietnam, said they can’t seem to escape the crime in Oakland.

“Thank you to all the customers and supporters until now, 34 years. Thank you very much,” Mr. Tran said.

ATM STOLEN IN ALAMEDA

According to authorities, burglars used a stolen U-Haul truck to smash the glass doors of the Aisle 1 gas station market on Blanding Avenue in Alameda around 4:30 Friday morning. The thieves then used a chain to drag an ATM machine out of the store.

“I feel kind of desensitized. I feel like this is kind of a normal occurrence in the Bay Area and it’s sad to feel like that,” said gas station customers David, who declined to provide his last name.

Alameda police said they were able to quickly recover the truck and the ATM in nearby Oakland.

In both cases, the burglars got away.

The Tran family said these burglaries are killing small businesses.

“Similar to my parents, they bootstrapped up, we need leaders to bootstrap up. We need more hands on the ground, Actually lead, Doo something,” said the younger Tran.

To prevent ATM burglaries, some Bay Area stores have removed ATM machines from their locations. Some stores also no longer accept cash. They only take credit and debit cards to discourage robberies.

More from CBS News

Da Lin

Da Lin is an award-winning journalist at KPIX 5 News. He joined KPIX 5 in 2012, but has been reporting the news in the Bay Area since 2007. Da grew up in Oakland, and before his return to the Bay Area, he spent five years covering the news at three other television stations in Texas, Southern and Central California. He also spent five years reporting at KRON 4.

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Da Lin

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March 8, 2024
Man charged with burglary and indecent exposure over break-in at Santa Monica apartment

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A man accused of illegally entering the home of a Santa Monica woman and performing a sex act near her as she slept has been charged with a pair of felonies.

Los Angeles County prosecutors on Tuesday charged Anthony Romero, 28, with one count of burglary and one count of indecent exposure and illegal entry. Romero, who remains in custody, is expected back in court April 17 for a preliminary hearing.

Anthony Romero, 28, who has a lengthy criminal record, faces charges for allegedly breaking into a Santa Monica woman’s home and masturbating next to her as she slept.

(Santa Monica Police Department)

Romero is alleged to have entered the 2nd Street apartment at 2:10 a.m. on Feb. 29, according to Santa Monica Police.

He is alleged to have climbed through an unlocked window, likely by stepping on a porch, according to Santa Monica Police Lt. Erika Aklufi.

Romero then walked over to the victim and masturbated as she slept, according to authorities. He did not make contact with the woman, according to Aklufi.

While he was exposing himself, the victim awoke and ordered Romero to leave, according to police. Romero complied as the woman called police. He left the apartment before officers responded to the call.

Security footage was collected by police, who arrested Romero just before 9:30 a.m. the following day while he was walking on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Romero was initially booked with an additional charge of attempt to commit rape, which has been dropped.

Romero was on parole in San Bernardino County for a weapons violation. He had been arrested in Santa Monica in January 2022 for shoplifting and last June for public intoxication, resisting arrest and battery on a police officer, according to Aklufi. Police said Romero identified himself to officers as homeless.

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Andrew J. Campa

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March 8, 2024
Two men, one armed, tried to break into TCU student apartment off-campus, police say

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This man is suspected by TCU police of trying to break into an off-campus student apartment while armed, about two miles south of Texas Christian University.

TCU Police

Police at TCU are asking for the public’s help in finding two men they say recently tried to break into an off-campus student apartment, with one carrying a gun, according to a social media post.

The attempted break-in happened in the 3100 block of Sandage Avenue, almost two miles south of campus, according to police. They tried to open a back door around 4 a.m., though police did not specify what day the attempted break-in happened.

The social media post comes weeks after TCU police warned of a night prowler in neighborhoods south of campus. According to a separate social media post, no crimes were committed but police wanted students to call 911 if they saw anything suspicious.

Anybody with information on the attempted break-in or who recognizes the man in the image shared by police is asked to contact TCU police at 817-257-7777.

A TCU spokesperson did not respond to a Star-Telegram request for more information.

Related stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram

James Hartley is a breaking news reporter with awards including features, breaking news and deadline writing. A North Texas native, he joined the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 2019. He has a passion for true stories, understated movies, good tea and scotch that’s out of his budget.

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James Hartley

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February 26, 2024

Alleged Fairfax Co. ‘Rose Ruse’ bandits bagged in Georgia – WTOP News

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Fairfax County police in Virginia said Thursday they’ve charged four people in connection to a string of burglaries where the bandits used flower bouquets as part of their break-ins.

Detectives seek community’s assistance identifying a group of serial burglars who employ bouquets of flowers and tools to break into houses.(Courtesy Fairfax County police)

Fairfax County police in Virginia said Thursday they have charged four people in connection with a string of burglaries, during which the bandits used flower bouquets as part of their break-ins.

Authorities said Fairfax County detectives identified a vehicle the suspects were driving through Cobb County, Georgia, on Jan. 17 and notified officials there.

Police said the vehicle had been involved in a recent burglary in their area.

Cobb County police in Georgia took the suspects into custody.

The four charged are:

Juan Pablo Montecinos Neira, 34: three counts of burglary.
Rey Jesus Arturo Morales Caruin, 27: three counts conspiracy to commit a felony.
Dylhan Jesus Esteban Osorio Jara, 23: three counts of burglary.
Karla Alejandra Vicencio Maysonet, 43: one count of conspiracy to commit a felony, and two counts of burglary; principals in the second degree or accessory before the fact.

Deputy Chief of Police for Investigations Lt. Colonel Brooke Wright said authorities have “recovered a lot of evidence.”

She added the suspects might be linked to other cases.

“We have absolutely every reason to believe that they probably did operate in other places of the country,” Wright said.

“So that’s why it’s so important that our detectives are talking to detectives with other jurisdictions on a regular basis.”

The burglaries started in December of last year and continued through January.

According to police, as part of the ruse, a woman would approach a home with flowers and knock on the door. If no one answered, men then broke into the home and stole items including jewelry, cash and purses.

The break-ins have happened in Great Falls, Oakton, McLean and Reston.

Date	Time	Location
Jan. 11	1 p.m. – 2 p.m.	1400 block of Mayhurst Boulevard, McLean
Jan. 9	12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.	11100 hundred block of Farm Road, Great Falls
Jan. 8	5:30 p.m.	11000 hundred block of Lance Lane, Oakton
Jan. 2	6 p.m.	10000 hundred block of Blue Road Rd, Oakton
Jan. 1	2 a.m.	1100 hundred block of Windrock Drive, McLean
Dec. 29	6 p.m.	1100 hundred block of Bishopgate Way, Reston
Dec. 28	6 p.m.	900 hundred block of Dominion Reserve Drive, McLean

The four are awaiting extradition to Fairfax County.

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Will Vitka

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February 8, 2024

Woman shot by deputies investigating burglary call was not an intruder, Texas cops say

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A woman who was not an intruder was shot by deputies responding to a call about a burglary at an apartment complex in Houston, Texas.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Texas deputies shot a woman several times after responding to a burglary call — but she wasn’t an intruder, officials told news outlets.

Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apartment complex in Cloverleaf for a burglary in progress at about 2 a.m. Feb. 3, authorities said, but as they were leaving, they were told another burglary was taking place at the apartments, KHOU reported.

They went to the unit to investigate and saw a damaged window and broken glass, officials told the outlet. Deputies knocked on the door and announced themselves, then a woman with a gun approached, officials told the outlet.

The deputies opened fire, shooting the 28-year-old woman several times, officials told KTRK.

Deputies opened fire, hitting the woman multiple times, officials say. Screengrab from video by KPRC.

Investigators later learned the woman was not an intruder and that she and another woman, one of whom is the tenant, had broken a window to get inside because they were locked out and didn’t have a key, KHOU reported.

“I called 911 because I heard the … glass breaking,” downstairs neighbor Robert Mitchell told KPRC. “I thought maybe somebody was breaking in. You know, so I just wanted to make sure whatever was going on up there didn’t come down to my apartment because I just moved in. So, I didn’t want to be involved in that.”

Mitchell said he heard around 17 shots fired, the outlet reported.

The woman was taken to a hospital in stable condition and the deputies have been put on leave while an investigation is conducted, KTRK reported.

Cloverleaf is about 15 miles east of downtown Houston.

Mitchell Willetts is a real-time news reporter covering the central U.S. for McClatchy. He is a University of Oklahoma graduate and outdoors enthusiast living in Texas.

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Mitchell Willetts

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February 4, 2024
Teen was determined to get photo of burglary suspect, so he beat her, Florida cops say

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The break-in happened Friday, Jan. 26, at a home in Hobe Sound, Florida, and the suspect was captured in nearby Palm Beach County, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Street View image from June 2022. © 2024 Google

A teenager ended up in a hospital after she tried photographing a man who forced his way into a Florida home, investigators say.

It happened Friday, Jan. 26, in Hobe Sound, and the teen took action after contacting her father, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Hobe Sound is about 100 miles north of Miami.

“(The suspect) broke into the home, and was confronted by a 17-year-old girl who was alone inside,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

“The teenager called her dad on Facetime to tell him someone was inside their home. (The suspect) ran and the teenager followed trying to get pictures of the suspect. Unfortunately, (he) turned around and began beating the teen.”

A witness called 911 after seeing the attack, which included strikes to the girl’s head and neck, officials said.

The suspect escaped the scene but was captured later that day in Palm Beach County, which is just south of Martin County.

Detectives working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as a 42-year-old Honduran man. He has been charged with “occupied burglary, battery, robbery by sudden snatching, and child abuse,” officials said.

Bond was set at $800,000, and the suspect was being held on an immigration detainer for the Department of Homeland Security, officials said.

The teen has been discharged from the hospital, officials said. Details of her injuries have not been released.

Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.

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Mark Price

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January 29, 2024
Murder charges filed against third defendant in slaying of Oakland police officer

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Alameda County prosecutors have filed murder charges against a third defendant in connection with the fatal shooting of an Oakland police officer, who was killed last month while responding to a report of a burglary, according to the district attorney’s office.

On Friday, prosecutors filed murder charges against Marquise Cooper in the killing of Officer Tuan Le, 34, officials said. Cooper is being held without bail and is scheduled to have an initial court appearance on Tuesday, jail records show.

Earlier this month, prosecutors announced they had filed murder charges against Mark Demetrious Sanders, 27, and Allen Starr Brown, 28, for their roles in the killing. A fourth defendant, Sebron Ray Russell, 28, was charged with burglary, according to a statement from Alameda County Dist. Atty. Pamela Price.

“I will leverage the full weight of my office against these people who we believe ruthlessly and wantonly murdered an officer,” Price said.

Le, an undercover officer, was shot and killed inside an unmarked police vehicle while responding to a report of a burglary on the morning of Dec. 29, police said. He was 36.

Oakland Police Officers Assn. President Barry Donelan has described the killing as an ambush, saying that Le and the officer with him, who suffered minor injuries, “were taken entirely by surprise” and “never had an opportunity to draw their service weapons.”

Born in Vietnam, Le emigrated to Oakland and graduated from the police academy in 2020, according to a tribute posted on the website of the City of Oakland.

“Officer Le was a devoted husband to his wife,” the tribute reads. “His passing leaves a void in the law enforcement community, the city of Oakland, and in the hearts of those who knew him.”

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Marisa Gerber

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January 14, 2024
Neighbor ransacks apartment 'multiple times,' takes items worth $30,000, police say

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First, the door was unlocked and some unusual lights were on.

Then, Brittney Heinzman realized her bags weren’t hanging in the doorway of her Irvine apartment, where they normally would.

She tried to brush it off. Maybe she was just jetlagged from her flight home, or perhaps she had been in more of a rush to leave for Thanksgiving than she remembered.

But then Heinzman noticed the TV was gone from her bedroom dresser. And there was a stray espresso cup in her shower.

She ran to her closet to see what else might be missing — only to find a woman cowering in the corner, clutching kitchen utensils, including a pizza cutter.

Heinzman remembered screaming.

The woman left, and in less than 48 hours she was behind bars for what police have described as a burglary carried out in multiple trips, and possibly over several days.

Wendy Wilkinson, a resident of the same apartment complex, is accused of stealing at least $30,000 worth of items from Heinzman’s apartment while her neighbor was out of town — including designer handbags, sunglasses, two TVs, credit cards and her passport, according to Kyle Oldoerp, a spokesperson for the Irvine Police Department.

Wilkinson, who officers found hiding in her own closet, was booked Dec. 3 on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen items, Oldoerp said.

“We are unable to confirm exactly how many times she went into the apartment,” Oldoerp said. “It’s more than likely she went in multiple times. … It’s possible she was going back and forth between her apartment.”

It’s that possibility that has Heinzman most on edge.

“Knowing that someone was in my place, multiple times — you don’t know if they were in your bed,” Heinzman said, tearing up.

The 35-year-old continues to find more items gone from her apartment. But what’s missing most is her sense of security.

Purses that were taken from the apartment of Brittney Heinzman.

(Irvine Police Department)

“This woman didn’t just want handbags, she didn’t just want a TV — she wanted my identity,” Heinzman said. “That’s the part that makes your stomach feel so sick.”

Heinzman, who works in software sales, said she knows all those stolen items — while valuable — are replaceable. But she’s struggling with unanswered questions, as well as how to move forward after finding a stranger in her home.

Oldoerp said there were no signs of forced entry, but Heinzman said she knows she locked her apartment door when she left. Police say they found items stolen from Heinzman’s apartment in Wilkinson’s apartment, car and an off-site storage unit.

Heinzman said she moved to the Skyloft Apartments on Main Street, touted as a luxury complex, for increased security. But she said that promise has fallen short. It was a neighbor’s front-door camera that caught footage of the suspect, not building security cameras, police said.

“There’s just no security at this building,” Heinzman said. “I moved out of L.A. into a safer place … [but] it’s like smoke and mirrors.”

Representatives from Skyloft and Legacy Partners, the real estate firm that manages the property, did not respond to a request for comment.

Heinzman hasn’t felt safe enough to stay in her apartment since she came home from her weeklong trip to visit family over Thanksgiving. She said she worries for her neighbors as well.

Wilkinson was arrested and charged in two other burglaries in 2021, court records show. However she was not convicted in either case, as they were were diverted through a mental health pretrial program, according to Orange County court records. Wilkinson remains in jail on $150,000 bail, court records show.

Heinzman said she needs to find a new place to live for her peace of mind. She had only moved into Skyloft seven months ago.

“To this day, I’m realizing more and more stuff that’s gone,” Heinzman said. “I just invested all this money into this place, I loved my place, and then the mental part of it — you don’t sleep, you have this image in your mind of this person standing in your closet.”

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Grace Toohey

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December 11, 2023
Retailers talk a lot about rising theft. But a retail industry report finds a key metric for it hasn’t increased that much.

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Retail executives over the past year have talked a lot about “shrink” — or the losses they take due to theft, fraud or employee error — amid a flood of headlines about sometimes violent organized thefts at stores. But results from a retail-industry survey released Tuesday found the metric rose only modestly last year.

The report from the National Retail Federation, a retail industry group, found that the average shrink rate in 2022 crept higher to 1.6% from 1.4% in the prior year, when calculated as a share of sales. The figure from 2022 is in line with those seen in 2020 and 2019.

Still, the losses amounted to billions of dollars — $112.1 billion, up from $93.9 billion in 2021 — according to the report. And the report said that retailers were increasingly concerned about the violence of those crimes.

“Far beyond the financial impact of these crimes, the violence and concerns over safety continue to be the priority for all retailers, regardless of size or category,” David Johnston, the NRF’s vice president for asset protection and retail operations, said in a statement.

The NRF, working with the Loss Prevention Research Council — a research group founded by some of the nation’s biggest retailers — surveyed people in the industry who work in loss-prevention and asset protection. The report contained responses or information from 177 retail brands. The survey was distributed in May, June and July.

The report was published the same day that Target Corp.
TGT,
-2.48%
said it would close nine stores across four states next month, citing theft and dangers to employees.

“In this case, we cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance,” Target said in a statement.

The chain joins other retailers sounding the alarm about retail theft and closing stores, amid what executives have described as a spike in organized retail theft, or theft with the intent of reselling the goods. However, executives’ takes on earnings calls have differed slightly, and retailers are contending with other issues — like the fallout from inflation — that have hit financials.

Also see: Costco CFO says inventory ‘in good shape,’ thefts have not ‘dramatically’ increased as earnings top estimates

The fight over theft has played out, perhaps predictably, on partisan lines, with some blaming what they say are lax crime policies in large cities. But other analysts point to changes in the flow of foot traffic through population centers since the pandemic, and say the data is often too squishy and subjective to make any hard calls about the state of crime — and whether it’s rising or falling, particularly at retailers — in a particular area.

More than two-thirds of the retailers surveyed by the NRF “said they were seeing even more violence and aggression” from organized retail theft compared with a year ago. Twenty-eight percent reported being “forced” to close a specific store location, the report said, while 45% said they cut operating hours, and 30% said they reduced or changed an in-store product selection as a result of retail crime.

“The types of products shoplifters are targeting may not be based solely on price point,” the National Retail Federation said.

“Products can range from high-price, high-fashion items to everyday products that have a fast resale capability,” the group said. “While ORC groups have traditionally targeted specific items or types of goods, that list has expanded to new categories like outerwear, batteries, energy drinks, designer footwear and kitchen accessories.”

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September 26, 2023
Paid off your mortgage? Be careful — you’re at risk of title theft.

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Homeowners may be thrilled when they finally pay off their mortgage, but the accomplishment comes with risks.

Retirement Tip of the Week: Be vigilant in protecting your identity and assets, and be aware of how you could fall victim to various scams or theft associated with your home.

With title theft, thieves transfer a house deed from the rightful owner to another person’s name by using the owner’s personal information. Title theft could also take the form of using equity in a home, such as by opening a home equity line of credit, known as a HELOC, according to Quicken Loans. When a house is unoccupied, thieves could go so far as to sell or rent out the property.

Title theft isn’t particularly common, but it does happen, and it’s another reason people should protect their identity and other sensitive information. Older Americans could be at higher risk, especially if they have a lot of equity in their home. About 11,500 people reported losing more than $350 million to real-estate scams in 2021, although that figure includes fraud pertaining to real-estate advertisements and rental agreements, according to the FBI.

Homeowners should keep on top of their documents and may even want to occasionally confirm their information with their county deeds office, the FBI said. Any mail from a mortgage lender should be checked to make sure it doesn’t pertain to your specific property.

If you are a victim of title theft, open an identity-theft case with the Federal Trade Commission, alert creditors about the fraud and look over your title insurance, which protects homeowners’ rights and which mortgage companies often require home buyers to have, Quicken Loans said.

There are companies that offer title-protection services, although critics say it’s not the same as title insurance and only alerts a homeowner of a problem after it has occurred.

“Do you need this service to protect your home from property thieves? The answer is no,” the Maryland Attorney General’s office said in a consumer alert about title-protection services. “Title fraud is very rare, and hardly ever successful. If someone ever tries to transfer your deed without your permission or knowledge, like these title lock companies suggest could happen, the transfer is fraudulent and void from the outset.”

Instead, homeowners should monitor their identity and keep an eye on their credit scores, the office said.

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September 15, 2023
Trouble in paradise: Shock guilty plea roils case of yoga gurus charged with stealing millions from bipolar Malibu doctor

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Their shared hippie spirit brought them together over a vegan potluck dinner, but the prospect of years in federal prison for allegedly stealing millions from a mentally-ill Malibu doctor, has driven a wedge between them.

A federal fraud prosecution against a pair of yoga gurus accused of siphoning cash from Dr. Mark Sawusch’s $60 million fortune took a significant turn at the end of August when one pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the other, her ex-boyfriend, according to court documents and people familiar with the matter.

Anna Moore’s guilty plea before a federal judge in Los Angeles on Aug. 28 represents a serious legal challenge to her longtime partner, Anthony Flores, who faces decades behind bars if convicted in the case. Flores pleaded not guilty after his arrest in January.

Details of Moore’s agreement with federal prosecutors remain under seal, but people familiar with the matter say her ultimate sentence in the case will largely be determined after her level of cooperation is evaluated. A sentencing hearing for Moore was set for Nov. 6.

“We are aware of Ms. Moore’s decision to plead guilty. Obviously this changes Mr. Flores’ legal situation in the case, and we are currently reviewing our options,” Flores’ attorney Ambrosio Rodriguez said.

Messages left with Moore’s attorney weren’t immediately returned. A spokesman for the U.S attorney’s office for the central district of California declined to comment.

The tragic end to Sawusch’s life began on June 23, 2017, when the brilliant, but troubled, ophthalmologist met Flores and Moore in a chance encounter at a vegan ice cream parlor in Venice Beach, Calif.

Flores, who went by Anton David, was a guru-esque figure with long, flowing hair and a beard. He worked as a hair stylist on film shoots. Moore, a pixie-like blond, was an actress and singer. The couple had met years earlier at a vegan potluck dinner and had fallen in love over what they described as a shared hippie spirit. Together, they ran a yoga center in Fresno, Calif., while going back-and-forth to L.A.

Their spiritual vibe cast a spell on Sawusch, who had just days earlier been released from a mental health facility, where he had been committed after suffering a breakdown, court filings said. Within a week, Flores and Moore had moved into Sawusch’s multi-million dollar beachfront home in Malibu, Calif., federal prosecutors said.

Over the next year, the pair gained increasingly firm control over the doctor’s life and finances, with Flores establishing power of attorney over Sawusch’s vast fortune while plying him with a steady diet of marijuana and LSD as he also underwent experimental ketamine treatments for his bipolar disorder that left him addled, investigators said.

Sawusch later died in May 2018 of a lethal mixture of ketamine and alcohol, according to a coroner’s report. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office ruled the death an accident.

In her guilty plea, Moore said she was not immediately aware of the scope of Flores’ alleged efforts to steal the doctor’s money, but admitted that following Sawusch’s death she participated in a later effort in probate court to keep the stolen money. Prosecutors have alleged that this was a separate fraud.

When Sawusch’s family sought to take control of his estate, they discovered that almost $3 million had been transferred from his accounts to ones controlled by Flores in the days before and after the doctor’s death, federal prosecutors said.

Sawusch’s family launched a civil lawsuit against the yogi couple and convinced a California state judge to issue a restraining order freezing Flores’ and Moores’ accounts, and order they return the money. Instead, federal prosecutors say, the two engaged in a second fraud by making false claims in probate court that Sawusch had verbally told them he would give them a third of his fortune plus his Malibu beach house.

The couple claimed that the doctor had given them the money in return for them taking care of him and as part of an effort to protect his fortune from his family, from whom he was estranged. The family said those claims were untrue and that the pair had kept Sawusch isolated from his friends and family.

Eventually, the couple returned around $2 million of the doctor’s money, but around $1 million remained unaccounted for, according to federal prosecutors.

Flores and Moore broke up during the pandemic after nearly a decade together. Moore moved to Mexico while Flores remained in Fresno, where he was arrested in late January. Moore was arrested at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston upon her return to the U.S. around the same time. Both have been held without bail since.

Read the series:

Part 1: Death and deceit in Malibu: How yogi couple befriended and stole millions from vulnerable rich doctor

Part 2: Rich Malibu doctor’s final days defined by fight between family and suspect yogis over declining mental health

Part 3: A star-crossed trade: Yogis offered friendship to a rich Malibu doctor in exchange for a third of his $60 million fortune

Part 4: Money, mania and LSD: A Malibu doctor’s tragic final weeks under yoga gurus’ sway

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September 10, 2023
3 of 9 enter pleas in burglary ring in theft of art, sports memorabilia

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Three of nine people have pleaded guilty to federal charges in a burglary ring that authorities in northeastern Pennsylvania say stole art, sports memorabilia and other items from museums and other institutions over two decades

SCRANTON, Pa. — Three of nine people have pleaded guilty to federal charges in a burglary ring that authorities in northeastern Pennsylvania say stole art, sports memorabilia and other items from museums and other institutions over two decades.

Ralph Parry, 45, and Francesco “Frank” Tassiello, 50, pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property, The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reported. Daryl Rinker, 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit concealment and disposal of major artwork and interstate transportation of stolen property, the paper reported.

Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced charges in June against nine Lackawanna County residents in 18 heists from art, historical and sports museums and other institutions in six states between 1999 and 2019.

The thefts included Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock art taken from the Everhart Museum in Scranton and a Jasper Cropsey work and antique firearms worth hundreds of thousands of dollars taken from Ringwood Manor in New Jersey. Other artwork, antique weapons and gems and gold nuggets were taken from other institutions along with valuable sports championship rings, belts and trophies, authorities said.

Rinker’s attorney, Chris Caputo, said that his client was “very sorry” and emphasized that he was not part of the actual thefts. Tassiello’s attorney declined comment and attempts to reach Parry’s attorney were unsuccessful, the Times-Tribune reported.

Plea hearings are scheduled for two other defendants Wednesday. Three others are scheduled for trial later this year and one person remains at large, authorities said.

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July 2, 2023
‘This is a game changer’: Ahead of Amazon Prime Day, a new law makes it harder for online sellers to hawk fake or stolen products

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Shopping online has just gotten safer.

The INFORM Consumers Act, which went into effect Tuesday, aims to limit the sales of stolen and counterfeit products on e-commerce platforms.

The measure, which requires e-commerce sites to verify and disclose information about their high-volume third-party sellers, was passed into law following a lobbying campaign to address counterfeit products after being left out of the bipartisan Chips and Science Act last year.

All online marketplaces, including eBay, Etsy, Poshmark and Amazon’s third-party sales platform, will now be required to collect information from high-volume sellers, defined as those selling 200 items or more totaling at least $5,000 over the previous 12 months. These third-party sellers must submit information such as a government-issued ID, a bank-account number, a working email address and phone number, and a taxpayer identification number.

Customers will also be able to find the verified contact information for bigger third-party sellers — those with sales of over $20,000 a year — and to get in touch with them outside of the e-commerce platform. In the past, consumers often had to engage within the platform operator in order to communicate with a seller.

Those bigger sellers will also have their full names and physical addresses listed on their product pages in addition to their contact information, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s business guide.

“This is a game changer,” said Teresa Murray, director of the consumer watchdog office at U.S. PIRG, a nonprofit that lobbies on behalf of the public interest. “For bad guys, stealing items has generally been the difficult part. Selling things online once you’ve stolen them is easy. We hope that with the INFORM Act, it’s not nearly as easy in the future.”

“‘The only people opposing this may be thieves.’”

— Teresa Murray, U.S. PIRG

The act goes into effect just weeks before Amazon Prime Day, when the world’s biggest e-commerce site rolls out discounts for Prime members. This year, Prime Day will be held over two days, on July 11 and 12.

Picks: Amazon Prime Day is July 11-12. You’ll need the $139-a-year Prime membership to access the deals, but is it actually worth it?

Also see: Amazon sued by FTC, which alleges people were ‘tricked and trapped’ into Prime subscriptions

Several e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and eBay, supported the INFORM Consumers Act. TechNet, a national network of technology CEOs and senior executives representing what it calls the innovation economy, wrote to leaders in Congress last December, saying the law would improve consumer safety and increase transparency.

In a statement provided to MarketWatch, eBay
EBAY,
+2.32%
said it “fully supports transparency and is committed to a safe selling and buying experience for our customers. We were proud to support” the law “to protect consumers from bad actors who seek to misuse online marketplaces, while also ensuring important protections for sellers. We are fully prepared to comply with the new law.”

Etsy
ETSY,
+3.45%
said it “has long been supportive of the INFORM Act passing into law, as a balanced and thoughtful approach to make the ecommerce landscape safer for both consumers and sellers.” In a statement provided to MarketWatch, the company said, “We are taking appropriate steps to comply with the INFORM Act requirements.”

Amazon
AMZN,
+1.45%
and Poshmark, owned by South Korea–based Naver Corp.
035420,
-0.59%,
did not immediately respond to MarketWatch requests for comment.

Some analysts, however, said the new law lacks stronger protections that were included the SHOP SAFE Act, an earlier bill that did not get passed by Congress. The INFORM Act, they noted, does not hold online platforms liable when a third party sells harmful counterfeit products or when the platform has not followed certain best practices.

“Notably, the legislation is supported by Amazon and other marketplaces as it’s seen as a watered-down bill that would head off more stringent legislation like the SHOP SAFE Act,” Ben Koltun, director of research at Beacon Policy Advisors, wrote in a note last year.

So how can consumers spot counterfeit or stolen items? A guide from PIRG has tips, such as keeping an eye out for products with suspiciously low prices or featuring misspellings or mislabeling or low-quality, photoshopped photos in their listings.

PIRG also cautions consumers about purchasing medications online. Always check the legitimacy of online pharmacies, it says.

“Many online marketplaces haven’t been doing enough to protect consumers from sellers who appear to be peddling stolen or counterfeit goods,” Murray said. “The only people opposing this [new law] may be thieves.”

Victor Reklaitis contributed.

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June 27, 2023

Tag: Burglary

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