by Liz Mullen
RBPD plans DUI checkpoint
The RBPD will conduct a driving-under-the-influence checkpoint on Friday night, Dec. 15, at an unclosed location in the city between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. Although the location is confidential, RBPD said DUI checkpoints are placed at locations based on collision and DUI statistics.
DUIs can be expensive, costing upwards of $13,500, the RBPD said, in a press release. That amount includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspense and other costs, but does not include possible jail time.
Hermosa elder fraud prevention seminar
The Hermosa Beach Police Department’s Detective Bureau will host a two-hour seminar on how elderly people can avoid financial fraud scams. The event will be held in the Hermosa Beach Community Theater on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
The seminar is open to everyone, including non-Hermosa residents. It is intended for the elderly and those who care for them, according to HBPD Sgt. Eric Calahan.
“We are going to be discussing the current scam trends that are victimizing our elder community,” Calahan said.
Those trends include:
- A phishing scam where the potential victim gets an email from a company they use asking them to renew their subscription.
- A romance scam where a widow or widower gets involved with someone they never actually meet who asks them for money after the relationship develops.
- A grandchild scam where the would-be victim gets a call that their grandson or granddaughter is in jail and needs them to wire money for bail.
- A fake government scam where a pretend city, county, state or federal agent calls the target, asking them to pay money.
“The government doesn’t call you on your cell phone to tell you that you own money,” Calahan said. If someone calls and says their grandchild is in jail, the target should hang up and call the police or someone in the know, Calahan added.
“A lot of people are embarrassed to report the crime,” Calahan said. Nevertheless, some do and “there has been such an increase.” Calahan said, of elderly fraud schemes.
Hermosa detectives will give a detailed presentation, including slides, so those in attendance will become educated, recognize a scam and will not fall victim to it.
MBPD responds to Macy’s robbery
The Manhattan Beach Police Department officers responded to a reported robbery at Macy’s at about 12:15 p.m. on Nov. 29. Officers located the suspect in the area of 8th Street and Sepulveda Blvd. The MBPD established a perimeter and with the aid of other police agencies, including a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter. The suspect was arrested and charged with robbery, as well as other crimes.
The Macy’s call was one of 46 MBPD crime reports in the last week of November, including reports of assault, auto theft, robbery, theft, vehicle burglary and vandalism. There were no reports of residential or business burglary for that time period of Nov. 22 through Nov. 29.
Two students, two days, two guns
Redondo Beach Police Department officers arrested a 15-year-old high school student last week for bringing a loaded firearm to school.
The Redondo Beach High School sophomore, whose name has not been released, was arrested on charges of: a juvenile in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm on school grounds; possession of a high-capacity magazine; carrying a loaded firearm in public; and possession of an unregistered loaded firearm. RBPD officials detained and arrested the student with the help of school officials without incident on Monday, Dec. 4, at about 10:30 a.m.
Redondo police have no reason to believe anyone else is or was involved in the incident, RBPD Sgt. Charles Preslia told Easy Reader. “There is no evidence of a threat or plan for violence during the initial investigation,” Preslia said.
Anyone who has information about the case is asked to contact RBPD by calling
(310) 379-2477 or texting (310) 339-2362. Tips may also be sent anonymously at crimetips@redondo.org. ER
