Receive alerts from your local agencies
...or text your ZIP CODE to 888777 for mobile alerts

Full Notification

Arcadia Police Department
Friday June 8th, 2012 :: 01:57 p.m. PDT

Advisory

Residential Distraction Burglary Awareness Info - Do NOT allow unknown persons to enter your home!

Incident: Residential Distraction Burglaries

Date and Time of Release: June 8, 2012, 1:00 p.m.

Over the course of the last year or two, we have seen an increase in reports of residential distraction burglaries. This type of residential burglary is not unique to Arcadia, and has been reported throughout the San Gabriel Valley to other police agencies. However, it is always good to remind our community about these crimes in order to increase awareness and help prevent them from occurring in the future.

These distraction burglaries are usually committed during daytime hours and the victims are older in age. The primary suspect will contact the victim, either outside in the yard, or at the door. The suspect will state they are from entities such as the water company, a construction company, or perhaps even the City. Many times, the suspect will say they need to check on water faucets and ask to enter the home, hoping to gain the trust and cooperation of the victim. Once inside, the suspect will distract the victim and take items themselves, or perhaps have an accomplice enter the home to commit the crime.

Anytime someone approaches you, or comes to your residence asking to come in or perform work, obtain identification and confirm their identity. There may be times when a City employee, gas, electric, telephone, water, or other service worker may require entrance to your exterior property. Legitimate service workers should be in some form of uniform, have identification, and most likely be driving a clearly marked company vehicle. Unless you placed the service call, do not allow anyone access to your home. If the person is suspicious or uncooperative, immediately call the police, or dial 9-1-1. Our dispatchers can be reached at (626) 574-5123.

If you have older neighbors, friends, or relatives, please share this information with them and help increase their awareness to this type of crime.

Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department at (626)574-5156. You can also submit crime tips and information via text, phone, or web to LA Regional Crime Stoppers, 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police

By: Tom Le Veque
Lieutenant


Get detailed, up-to-date emails and text messages specific to your community from the Arcadia Police Department by registering for "Nixle" alerts at: https://local.nixle.com/register/
You can also register for alerts and advisory text messages only by texting your zip code to 888777. (Standard text messaging rates may apply, depending on your cell phone plan). Nixle provides community wires nationwide. Once registered, you can subscribe to messages from other areas that service your relatives or other loved ones, or other locations of interest to you.

Trl/376

Address/Location
Arcadia Police Department
250 W Huntington Dr
Arcadia, CA 91007

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 626-574-5150

Navigate & Discover