Police blotter 8.16.13

Police search for suspect in attempted robbery of Chase Bank

Claremont may have been the second stop for a man who attempted robbery at a bank in the Village last weekend, according to Claremont police.

Police arrived to Chase Bank on the corner of Fourth Street and Indian Hill on Friday evening after reports that a man wearing a blue baseball cap had passed a note to a teller demanding money. The teller locked the register and refused to give the suspect money. The man fled before police arrived.

A man fitting the same description had robbed a bank in Santa Ana just 2 hours earlier, according to police. While officers believe there is a connection, the 2 cases have yet to be officially linked.

The suspect is described as a white male in his late 40s, 5 foot, 8-inches tall with a skinny build and long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. At the time of the attempted robbery in Claremont, he was wearing a blue baseball hat, reading glasses, a blue polo shirt and dark shorts. Anyone with information related to the crime is asked to call the Claremont Police Department at 399-5411.

Thursday, August 8

A bicyclist was flown to the hospital on Thursday morning after being struck by a car in the middle of the intersection at College Avenue and Eighth Street, according to police reports. The biker was traveling west on Arrow Highway when a motorist failed to stop before making a left-hand turn onto College. The cyclist was knocked to the ground, cracking her helmet. She was flown to USC medical center for medical aid due to shoulder pain and possible head trauma.

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Having troubles with cell phone service? This might be the reason. Police are investigating a reported grand theft in in which an estimated $10,000 in copper wiring was stolen from a Verizon box located in an alleyway in the 500 block of West Tenth Street, according to Lieutenant Ciszek. The suspect is described as a white male with black hair and brown eyes, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 160 pounds.

Friday, August 9

Two Claremont residents, one in the 300 block of Springfield and the other in the 500 block of South Indian Hill, awoke on Friday to an unpleasant surprise. Both of the cars had smashed rear and passenger windows, though no property appears to have been stolen.

A similar incident was reported at a parking lot in the 900 block of Arrow Highway earlier that morning. A large brick had been thrown through a car’s passenger window, according to Lt. Ciszek. No items were reported missing. It is unknown whether these incidents are related. Police reports were taken.

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Police are capitalizing on a criminal’s fatal flaw. On Friday afternoon, a woman known to bank employees walked into Wells Fargo at 203 Yale Ave. and attempted to withdraw cash using a fraudulent credit card. Employees called police, but the woman got the hint, taking off in a car parked nearby before officers arrived. It might be a little too late, however, as employees had already written down her license plate number. Investigation continues.

Sunday, August 11

Two repeat offenders, in separate incidents, found themselves back in jail on Sunday. Traffic violations led to further trouble for Dimitrios Sarvasilis, 22, of  La Verne, and Wesley Isaacs, 48, of Covina. Both men were found to be on probation—Mr. Sarvasilis for vandalism, Mr. Isaacs for narcotics. Both were found in possession of drugs. Both found themselves behind bars.

—Beth Hartnett

news@claremont-courier.com