Police blotter 7-31-15

Claremont police seek owners of found items

The Claremont Police Department has several recreational items that have been found and are waiting to be reclaimed.

Found property is as follows: pink “Huffy bicycle found on the 100 block of Pomello on February 21, 2015; blue “Next” bicycle found on the 100 block of Pomello on February 21, 2015; men’s 21-speed Antelope-brand bicycle found on the 100 block of Pomello on February 21, 2015; a pair of Zephyr Ultra-Wheels rollerblades found at Thompson Creek Trail on March 31, 2015; and a white bicycle found in front of the Claremont Police Department on April 26, 2015.

Owners wishing to claim their property should contact the police at (909) 399-5411 and be prepared to show proof of ownership. The Claremont Police Department is located at 570 W. Bonita Ave., Claremont.

Wednesday, July 22

It was Christmas in July for burglars who struck a north Claremont home and made off with quite a bounty. Unknown thieves entered the home on the 900 block of Deep Springs Drive between 7 and 10 p.m. by smashing a sliding glass door to the master bedroom. Once inside, the housebreakers ransacked the residence and left through a sliding glass door, taking with them $76,000 in jewelry, $21,000 in cash and $3,000 in euros. The investigation remains ongoing.

Thursday, July 23

A watchful Claremont neighbor pulled a fast one on a thief during a home invasion, leaving him no place to go but straight to jail. According to Claremont Lieutenant Mike Ciszek, a 28-year-old man saw a 1997 Honda Accord drive up to a home located on the 700 block of Via Los Andes Street at approximately 6:36 p.m. He believed the car was stolen because it was running with no key in the ignition. With the suspected burglar out of sight, the witness entered the vehicle and drove it around the corner before calling police. Upon their arrival, officers located the suspect, Kenneth Thomas, walking south along Mountain Avenue and detained him at gunpoint. The Pomona resident was found to be in possession of methamphetamine as well as property stolen from the home on Via Los Andes and was positively identified by the witness as the thief. A collapsible sword, a couple of ties and a can of Sapporo beer were also found in the possession of the 47-year-old suspect, who admitted to police he was driving the stolen vehicle. Mr. Thomas was arrested for burglary, possession of stolen property, vehicle theft and possession of methamphetamine. He remains in custody at Men’s Central Jail awaiting court. His bail has been set at $85,000.

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A bike thief must have mistaken a Village shop for a trading post when he swapped out one stolen bicycle for another. At approximately 6:40 p.m., officers responded to the Village Market after a 35-year-old Claremont resident left his Giant Escape men’s bicycle unlocked at a nearby bike rack and returned to find it missing. In its place, the thief left behind a Raleigh bicycle and fled the location undetected.

The victim brought the replacement bike to the Claremont Police Department, where it was booked as found property. The victim’s missing bike, valued at $989, has not yet been located.

Friday, July 24

A reminder to parents everywhere: Don’t leave your children unattended in your car. Claremont police responded to the 200 block of West First Street around 6:25 p.m. after being notified by a passerby that a child was locked inside a vehicle in the Village. Upon the officer’s arrival, a 5-year-old girl was found sitting alone in the backseat of a Dodge Charger with the windows cracked about three inches and the engine not running in 90-degree heat. The young victim had sweat on her face and was crying when the officer located her. Police contacted the child’s mother, Maria Saez, in the parking lot shortly after. She admitted leaving her daughter alone in the car so she could go inside the building to her job. She knew it was unacceptable, but it was a risk she took to go inside the building quickly. The Covina resident told police her employer won’t let her take her child inside, but said she didn’t want to leave her outside the building as there is a homeless man that hangs out nearby. The 28-year-old mother was arrested for child neglect and booked at Claremont jail. The child was transported to CPD, where she was provided water and snacks and was checked out by paramedics before being released to Children and Family Services. Ms. Saez was held for court and later released on $100,000 bond.

Monday, July 27

A Claremont woman was sexually assaulted in Blaisdell Park, and her attacker is behind bars thanks to some great detective work by local law enforcement. At approximately 7 a.m., the 42-year-old woman was jogging through the park at 440 S. College Ave. when a man approached her from behind, pushed her to the ground and groped her. As the victim began to scream “help” and “no,” the suspect put his hand over her mouth. She bit him and was eventually able to get away and call 911. Officers responded to the scene and the victim provided a description of the suspect, but he was not located. Claremont police were later notified of a similar attack on a 63-year-old woman at Lion’s Park in Rancho Cucamonga that had occurred an hour prior to the Claremont attack. In that incident, the victim was sitting at a bus stop when the suspect came up from behind, put a knife to her throat and began to drag her into the nearby bushes saying he was going to rape her. The victim was able to break free and attract the attention of a nearby motorist, who came to her aid and called police. During their investigation, San Bernardino County Sheriff deputies found a box-cutter at the scene and located surveillance footage that later lead them to the attacker. Jacob Latham of Rancho Cucamonga was arrested at 5 p.m. and booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Mr. Latham admitted to the attack, telling police he was intoxicated and decided to assault the victim because he thought he would not be caught by law enforcement.

The 24-year-old male has been charged in San Bernardino County with attempted kidnap to commit rape, intent to commit rape, assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats which could result in death. Charges in the Claremont attack have not yet been filed. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail with a San Bernardino court date pending.

—Angela Bailey

news@claremont-courier.com