Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - Police are reminding residents to be vigilant after a hidden camera was discovered recently outside a home.

The camera, discovered nestled in some hedges along a driveway, was aimed towards the residence on California Boulevard, according to the San Marino Police Department.

No burglary occurred yet at the location.

“Criminals are using these hidden cameras to monitor the movement of unsuspecting homeowners,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement. “They will either watch in real time using a device with an air card, or retrieve the device later to log your activity over time.”

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Detectives announced the arrest of the 63-year-old husband of a woman found dead under suspicious circumstances at woman’s San Marino home.

Yoon Lai was booked on suspicion of murdering Irene Gaw-Lai, 56. He was arrested at 11:34 a.m. July 3 in San Gabriel and is being held on a no-bail warrant, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Irene’s cause of death remains a mystery, with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner stating her death is undetermined after an autopsy and toxicology tests were performed.

A house fire was reported at 2625 Lorain Road at 9:45 a.m. January 6, 2025. Soon after, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide detectives were called to the scene.

In August 2024, Irene filed for divorce from Yoon.

The day Irene died, Yoon told investigators he took his sons to baseball practice and returned home to see the house on fire.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday, July 8.

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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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A man was assaulted Tuesday after four home invasion robbers made their way through an open window.

Jewelry was taken by the four suspects who broke into the home in the 2900 block of Duarte Road around 11 p.m. May 27. The suspects pried off a window screen and opened an unlocked window. The suspects confronted a resident who was then hit over the head with an unknown blunt object.

The resident was treated at a hospital, but was released soon after.

One of the masked suspects carried an object that resembled a handgun. All four suspects entered what was described as a sedan and fled the scene.

The San Marino Police Department can only describe the suspects as wearing hoodies, masks and gloves.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A suspicious death investigation is under way in the same neighborhood where a house fire ignited Monday.

The suspicious death occurred in the 2000 block of Lorain Road. First responders were sent to the location at 9:45 a.m. January 6. The victim, described as an adult female, died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

San Marino police officers and firefighters were also dispatched to a structure fire at 2625 Lorain Road at 9:45 a.m., according to San Marino Fire Department dispatch records.

Lorain Road between Del Mar Avenue and Rubio Drive is expected to be closed until 6 p.m., according to a statement issued by the San Marino Police Department.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A juvenile with a little too much determination was finally caught after repeatedly fleeing authorities after crashing a stolen vehicle January 4.

The juvenile was able to flee officers by running through yards, a flood control channel and inside a garage before finally being taken into custody. The juvenile is accused of driving a reported stolen vehicle, which was located with the help of an automated license plate reader just before 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Officers located the stolen vehicle in the southbound turn lane of westbound Huntington Drive at Del Mar Avenue. After turning south on Del Mar, the driver made an abrupt turn to try and evade officers through an alley and eventually crashed into a wall and parked vehicle in the 2400 block of Huntington Drive, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The juvenile escaped on foot into a neighborhood on Del Mar Avenue, fled through the Rubio Wash and through the 2500 block of Melville Drive before entering a yard in the 1500 block of Rubio Drive.

Officers working a containment search spotted the juvenile as he ran from yard to yard on Rubio Drive. A police helicopter spotted the juvenile taking refuge inside a detached garage at a residence. A K9 flushed out the suspect through a garage window and he continued to flee until officers subdued him during a short foot pursuit, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The juvenile was cleared at a hospital for a booking and was jailed on suspicion of burglary, hit-and-run, evading, police, and driving a stolen vehicle. The juvenile was issued a citation to later appear in court, according to the San Marino Police Department.

Assisting with the search were Alhambra Police Department drone officers, a Pasadena Police Department helicopter, Pasadena Police Department K9, South Pasadena Police Department and San Gabriel Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A man reportedly flashed his genitals at a girl as she walked towards San Marino High School May 24, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The incident, reported at 8:23 a.m., occurred near Gainsborough Drive and Huntington Drive. The girl was called over by the suspect sitting in a newer Honda Civic hatchback. He then exposed himself to her, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The girl fled and reported the indecent exposure to an adult.

The suspect was described as a Latino man, 30 years old. He wore clear glasses and has long wavy shoulder-length hair. The color of the Civic hatchback is “sonic gray pearl,” according to the San Marino Police Department.

Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call the San Marino Police Department at 626-300-0720. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - One suspect was caught, a second is still at-large after eluding San Marino Police in a carjacked vehicle Thursday.

The minutes-long chase ended after the driver gave officers the fade in San Gabriel in the 800 block of Valley Boulevard. The vehicle was located and San Gabriel Police officers ran after a male suspect who tried to elude police again, according to the San Marino Police Department.

An automated license plate reader notified officers of the carjacked vehicle near San Gabriel Boulevard and California Boulevard just after 9 a.m. March 16.

The vehicle, taken from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station patrol area a day prior, was located and stopped near Hermosa Avenue and San Gabriel Boulevard. The driver took off in the vehicle, according to the San Marino Police Department.

An eye witness saw two suspects run after the chase ended.

“An eyewitness reported seeing a male subject in a white shirt and a female subject in a white shirt exit the vehicle and run west through the rear parking lot and over a wall,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement.

The female suspect is still at-large.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A masked man armed with a handgun fled with cash after robbing a woman at a Chase Bank ATM Tuesday.

The robbery was reported at 8:21 a.m. at Chase Bank, 2270 Huntington Dr. February 14. Minutes before, the woman was withdrawing cash at an ATM near the bank entryway when the suspect approached from behind, according to the San Marino Police Department.

“The suspect stood directly beside the victim while displaying a handgun, and demanded the money the victim withdrew. The victim was in fear for her safety and handed the suspect the money,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement.

The woman was uninjured.

The suspect walked south on Ridgeway Road, east on Roanoke Road and out of sight.

The suspect was described as a male white or Latino in his early 20’s. He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and has a thin build. He wore a gray baseball cap with a black bill with “DR” on the front, a black mask, a black and white sweatshirt, blue jeans and white shoes. There was no vehicle seen in the area.

Anyone with information on this robbery is urged to call the San Marino Police Department at 626-300-0720. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A pedestrian was hospitalized Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle and the driver sped from the scene.

The 70-year-old woman was struck just after 6 a.m. on Los Robles Avenue and Oak Street February 1. She was crossing Los Robles and was hit by an unknown vehicle, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The driver reportedly did not stop to provide help, or identify themselves, according to the San Marino Police Department.

San Marino Police detectives are canvassing for any evidence or security video.

Anyone with information on this crash is urged to call the San Marino Police Department at 626-300-0720. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN MARINO - A man and woman were rescued by a neighbor who heard screams for help after they were zip-tied during a home invasion robbery December 30.

The man and woman were left restrained for about three and a half hours before being discovered in the 1700 block of Oak Lane. The masked suspects forced their way into the bedroom around 9 p.m. Friday with an unknown tool and held both the man and woman at gunpoint, according to the San Marino Police Department.

“Upon entering, the suspects zip tied the elderly residents at gunpoint and forced them to lay down near the front door entryway. Fearing for their safety, the victims complied,” according to the San Marino Police Department in a written statement.

After the man and woman were zip-tied, the suspects saw fit to disable all phones, security cameras and Internet connections. They had their way with the house for about an hour and a half before fleeing, according to the San Marino Police Department.

The man, while restrained, crawled to the garage where he began screaming for help. It wasn’t until 12:32 a.m. that a neighbor found the scene, according to the San Marino Police Department.

It is unclear if investigators have suspect descriptions available.

Anyone with information on this home invasion robbery is urged to call San Marino Police Detective Ruiz at 626-300-0726. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA regional crime stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.