Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - Investigators are searching for equipment stolen from a park storage area overnight and the suspects responsible for the grand theft.

Two softball pitching machines were taken from Lojewski Field at Eisenhower Park, 601 N. 2nd Ave. The machines were last seen around 10 p.m. October 27, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

The machines were secured inside the locked batting cages. On October 28, at about 7:30 p.m., someone discovered that the batting cage door was removed from the hinges and the two pitching machines were missing, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

The pitching machines are valued at $2,000 each and belonged to a local community member. The machines were used at the park for softball activities.

At this time, there is no suspect information available.

Anyone with information on this theft is urged to call the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5151, reference case number 25-4310. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - A Los Angeles man was arrested August 27, accused of an expensive copper wire theft that left 9-1-1 phones lines in the dark.

Jose Alberto Gante-Gomez, 44, was originally booked on suspicion of grand theft and resisting an officer. He was since been officially charged in Pasadena Superior Court with receiving stolen property, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

The 9-1-1 outage affected the Arcadia Police Department at 2:30 a.m. August 7. Measures were implemented to reroute emergency calls, according to Arcadia Police.

The investigation was pinpointed to the 200 block of South Santa Anita Avenue where the copper theft occurred.

“Approximately 60 feet of copper wiring had been severed and stolen, causing the outage. The estimated cost of the stolen materials and necessary repairs was approximately $10,000,” according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Gante was tracked to Los Angeles, where plainclothes detectives and additional Arcadia officers found him in the 1700 block of Olympic Boulevard. Gante initially complied during a traffic stop, but he fled on foot.

Gante was caught in the 600 block of Rampart Boulevard.

Gante is scheduled to appear in court October 23.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - The driver of a stolen white Toyota Camry was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after initially leading South Pasadena Police officers on a pursuit.

South Pasadena Police officers located the stolen Camry after receiving a Flock camera notification just before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 28. The driver allegedly refused to stop and recklessly evaded officers who called off the pursuit due to the unsafe conditions, according to Sgt. Spencer Louie of the South Pasadena Police Department.

The suspect reportedly abandoned the stolen Camry in Arcadia, Louie told SGV CityWatch.

​Arcadia Police assisted with a search.

A perimeter search for the suspect unfolded near Fairview Avenue and Hungate Lane.

Details of where exactly the suspect was found and the suspect’s booking information were not readily available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - Two men were arrested recently, allegedly found with a large amount of stolen mail, shaved keys from the US Postal Service, narcotics and stolen license plates.

Both suspects, 30-year-old Rosemead man Dan Lopez and 38-year-old Tao Mach of Diamond Bar, were detained during a traffic stop after officers were alerted that the vehicle the suspects were in had entered the city, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Officers were alerted to the vehicle entering the city at 4:06 a.m. December 23.

Both suspects were booked on a variety of charges, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

ARCADIA – An Oxnard man already on probation for robbery was put behind bars December 9 after fleeing officers with a stolen package in tow and attempted to steal a vehicle after breaking into a resident’s home in North Hollywood.

The package, unbeknownst to the suspect, was a bait package featuring a hidden GPS device that alerted officers. The package was taken from the 200 block of East Magna Vista Avenue around 3:13 p.m., according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Officers tracked the suspect’s movements through multiple cities. A brief pursuit was initiated into Burbank, but the chase was cancelled after the reckless suspect crashed into another vehicle and continued to flee, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

A police helicopter was used to track the suspect into North Hollywood where he collided with two parked vehicles. He fled on foot.

“While fleeing, the suspect entered a home in the 6600 block of Lernay Street in North Hollywood. He confronted the resident inside, stole car keys, and ran from the home,” according to the Arcadia Police Department in a written statement. “The suspect attempted to steal a vehicle parked on the street but was unsuccessful.”

Residents chased the suspect who continued to run. He hid in a rear yard in the 6600 block of Morella Avenue in North Hollywood where officers arrested the suspect without further incident.

A search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed the bait package and multiple other pieces of stolen property. He was booked on suspicion of grand theft, evading a peace officer, burglary attempted vehicle theft, hit and run and for multiple outstanding warrants.

The suspect, an Oxnard man, was held in lieu of $360,000 bail.

ARCADIA – A woman and two men were arrested on Halloween, reportedly caught with stolen mail and burglary tools after being seen breaking into mailboxes.

An anonymous caller reported seeing a blue Volvo flee the area after two men bro into the mailboxes in the area of South First Avenue and Diamond Street around 1:29 p.m. October 31. The three suspects were detained after officers found the blue Volvo parked in a nearby alley, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

After a search of the vehicle, officers located the stolen items and burglary tools. All three suspects were arrested and booked on suspicion of mail theft and possession of burglary tools, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

ARCADIA – Two catalytic converters, cutting tools and a vehicle jack were discovered during a traffic stop by officers searching for suspected thieves May 8.

Police were called to the 500 block of Fairview Avenue just before 5 a.m. to investigate a reported catalytic converter theft that just occurred. Officers found a suspicious vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

“During their investigation, the officers located two catalytic converters, several saws, and a vehicle jack,” the Arcadia Police Department said in a written statement.

Both suspects who were unidentified were subsequently arrested.

ARCADIA - An Arcadia resident fell victim to a scam after a suspect over the phone said she had a warrant for her arrest.

The victim reported the crime to police at 12:49 p.m. February 5.

ARCADIA - Police are investigating a reported theft from safety deposit box in which jewelry was discovered missing after 23 years.

The theft was reported to officers January 23. The woman said she checked her safety deposit box after having not checked it since 1997 and discovered the jewelry missing, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

The theft occurred at Chase Bank, 700 W. Huntington Dr.

Police did not state the loss in dollars. It was unknown if a suspect could be identified.

ARCADIA – A man from Montclair is accused of selling fake gold bars to the owner of a jewelry store, police said.
 
The owner of Dorano Jewelry, 30 E. Huntington Dr., reportedly spent $10,836 for the fake gold bars, according to the Arcadia Police Department.
 
The suspect was outstanding as of January 14, when the Arcadia Police Weekly Activity Report was published.