Robbery Suppression Patrols in Arcadia This Weekend

This past Wednesday, we posted about recent area robberies occurring in Arcadia and surrounding communities. Most of the robberies have occurred in the evening hours with some unsuspecting victims possibly being followed home. Always be aware of your surroundings, including while driving. If you believe your are being followed by a vehicle, don't drive to your home. Instead, make your way to your local police station if possible, or at minimum, a well-lighted, busy business where there are other people. Remain in your locked vehicle and call the police. Awareness and Avoidance are two of your best tools in personal safety.

The Arcadia Police Department will be deploying suppression patrols this weekend during evening hours. Both additional officers in marked units, along with members of our Investigations Section in unmarked units will be on the streets. Please remember to be a good witness and if you See Something suspicious, Say Something!

Weekly Tip - Recent Area Robberies, Be Aware and Alert

Our personal safety is something we should always be considering.  As you can see from the CrimeMapping.com screen shot above, there have been a number of area street and residential robberies in the last four weeks. With this in mind, there is no better time for a Personal Safety reminder. Here are some tips and thoughts on steps you can take to help maintain your personal safety:

  

•Awareness & Avoidance - Not enough can be said for being aware of your surroundings. It does not matter where you are, at home, out shopping, driving, at the park, DO NOT settle into a fog and become so involved in your task that you fail to look around. Scan the area before you head out. Look around and see what potential threats may be looming. Are there suspicious persons parked by your car? Is there a car approaching slowly from behind or following you? If you see something that makes you suspicious or uncomfortable, walk away, return to the store, and report the activity and your observations to security or store staff.

 

•Be a Good Witness - If you see a crime or fall victim, be the best witness you can be. Without good suspect descriptions it is difficult for police to conduct follow-up, apprehend criminals, and hopefully, help prevent others from becoming future victims. Basic physical descriptions such as hair color and style, height, weight and build, clothing color and type, suspect vehicle description and license plate, direction of travel, are all things that a responding police officer will ask for. Try and make note of anything specific to the suspect such as tattoos, scars, piercings or perhaps damage in a particular location on a suspect vehicle.

 

•Consider the Stakes - If this is a property crime and you are in fear for your safety, give up the purse, the wallet, the car. Your personal well-being is much more valuable than your property. Property can be replaced, you can't.  

•Don't be a Target - Walk with a purpose and look about surveying your surroundings. Carry your keys and whistle in your hand, not buried in your purse. This allows you to immediately open your vehicle or set off your car alarm if needed. Keep your purse tucked under your shoulder, not dangling down or sitting unattended in a cart.

 

Query the topic of personal safety on-line. There are many quality sites that offer additional advice and products that can bolster your safety. Best overall advice...Awareness and Avoidance!

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Trending in Arrests

Each week, we will post an arrest of interest pointing toward arrest and crime trends within Arcadia. Purse snatches and street robberies will occur from time to time and with good investigative work, witness assistance, and other evidence, we will hopefully be able to track down the culprit.

A female shopper was leaving a store in the 1300 block South Golden West Avenue at about 7:30 p.m. on January 3, 2107. A male suspect approached her, said nothing, grabbed the victim's purse off her shoulder, breaking the strap in the process, and ran off to an awaiting SUV. The suspect and SUV sped off.

Included in the victim's property was a cell phone which happened to be GPS enabled. On January 4, 2017, at about 2:30 p.m. the phone was tracked to a location in the City of Irwindale. Detectives went to the Irwindale location and contacted both the male and female suspects above. The victim's purse, a second purse believed to be stolen in a separate purse snatch, and a pellet hand gun were also found. A white Lincoln Navigator SUV was parked in the driveway.

Christopher S. Urquilla and Guadalupe Rivera, both 35-years-old, from Irwindale, were both arrested and booked at the Arcadia City Jail on felony charges.

Anyone with information on either of these incidents is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5156. Or, if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” mobile app on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.