Los Angeles, Ca
2 suspects wanted for Halloween burglary in Orange County, victims report over $200K stolen
Two burglary suspects remain at large after victims said they stole up to $250,000 worth of items from their Orange County home on Halloween night.
Home security cameras along Gardenia Avenue in Garden Grove captured hooded thieves at work, snatching valuables from a home they had broken into shortly before 9 p.m., disabling much of the security system, and busting through the front door, possibly with a crowbar.
In addition, from studying another angle from security footage and comparing notes, the victims discovered the culprits followed them to a Halloween party 20 minutes from their home and disabled their vehicle, slashing a tire, then returned to the neighborhood to strike.
The loot included expensive handbags, jewelry, watches, cash and a massive safe holding guns and important items, according to reports.
KTLA’s Chris Wolfe spoke with the victims, Peter Lee and Vicki Nguyen, who are asking for the community’s help in identifying the suspects.
“I now don’t feel safe in my own house,” said Nguyen. “They definitely robbed my peace.”
Police say the two suspects are both men, but no further information has been provided other than they were covered head to toe in black and gray clothing during the burglary.
“I just thought like ‘wow these guys are taking forever, the cops could’ve been here by now, you know?’” Lee told KTLA.
The victims are offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to arrests or recovery of their stolen property.
Anyone with information should contact Garden Grove Police.
Los Angeles, Ca
Stolen credit card, over $1K in merchandise found in Upland mail theft bust
Officers arrested two suspects for stealing mail, over $1,000 in merchandise and more in San Bernardino County, police announced on Monday evening.
The Upland Police Department wrote in an X post that officers received a call last week about two men breaking into mailboxes and driving a Mercedes that didn’t have license plates.
The department said officers were able to identify the suspect vehicle, “which started the shift challenge of who could find it first.”
An officer “didn’t take long” to find the Mercedes at a gas station at Foothill Boulevard and Benson Avenue, according to police.
“It also wasn’t hard to spot the two making a couple of trips to the trash can,” the department added.
Officers said they then stopped the car and found stolen mail from Upland, as well as drugs, burglary tools and paraphernalia.
Police also found more stolen mail after officers went back to the gas station and searched the trash.
In addition, Upland PD said officers found a sizeable amount of merchandise from a retail store as well as a receipt that showed a partial card number from the credit card used.
“In one of the guys’ wallets was a freshly stolen credit card with matching numbers,” wrote the department. “Turns out the card was just stolen, then used to ‘purchase’ over $1,000 in merchandise.”
Upland PD said officers arrested and booked the suspects for commercial burglary, felony identification theft, mail theft, narcotics and more. Officers also impounded the Mercedes.
“Great job to our vigilant citizens for reporting what they saw,” praised the department.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man, woman released after 17 years due to 'wrongful conviction' in East Los Angeles murder
A man and a woman who spent more than 17 years in prison for an East Hollywood murder had their convictions vacated, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan also ordered the immediate release of Charlotte Pleytez and Lombardo Palacios who were imprisoned for the 2007 murder.
“I want to extend my deepest apologies to Ms. Pleytez and Mr. Palacios for the years of hardship they endured due to these wrongful convictions,” Hochman stated. “I also want to recognize the tragic loss of Hector Luis Flores and share my heartfelt condolences with his family. His death is a painful reminder of the heavy responsibility we bear to ensure justice not only holds the right people accountable but also honors the lives of victims and their families.”
Flores was fatally shot during a verbal altercation in a shopping center parking lot in the 5200 block of Sunset Boulevard on March 28, 2007.
Pleytez and Palacios were arrested following eyewitness identifications and other circumstantial evidence, the DA’s Office stated.
Palacios and Pleytez were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison but years later, the DA’s Office was asked to revisit the case.
“We are reluctant to say justice has been done, because the injustices our clients have suffered for nearly two decades are unfathomable, but this is definitely a cause for celebration,” said attorney Matt Lombard.
The District Attorney said that there was no evidence to suggest that law enforcement or prosecutors acted inappropriately during the case. “The request for relief in this case was based entirely on new evidence uncovered by the joint CRU and defense investigation,” Hochman stated.
Los Angeles, Ca
Vigil held to honor L.A. firefighter lost at sea in free dive off Long Beach
SEAL BEACH, Calif. (KTLA) – Family, friends and colleagues gathered Sunday in Seal Beach to honor the life of Connor Lees, a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department who died earlier this month during a recreational free dive.
The Dec. 5 incident occurred when Lees, 29, and three other divers in their 20’s went for a free dive, which entails a person holding their breath for as long as they can while diving without scuba gear, in the waters off Long Beach, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Long Beach Fire spokesperson Brian Fisk told The Times one of the men was presumably piloting the small watercraft while the others were free diving, adding that only two of the three returned from the dive.
The three men called for emergency help just before 10 a.m., launching a multi-agency search with divers from the U.S. Coast Guard, LAFD, L.A. County Fire, LBPD and the L.A. Port Police.
More than 19 hours after the search began, officials made the difficult decision to transition from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission.
“The decision to transition operations to a recovery mission is not taken lightly,” LBFD said in a post to Instagram. “As we make this transition, our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of the missing diver and for our brothers and sisters at the Los Angeles City Fire Department.”
Officials told The Times that investigators did not suspect foul play, and that Lees was believed to be lost at sea.
Lees, who grew up in Seal Beach and was a six-year veteran of LAFD, was remembered Sunday night as something of an institution in the community, one whose untimely and tragic death has affected so many that knew him.
Friends said the 29-year-old loved the ocean and the beach and that the place he grew up was the perfect spot to honor lasting memory.
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