The 818 Now

A fraudulent — known as smishing — text message from “California Credit Union.”

This morning I received a fraudulent — known as smishing — text message from “California Credit Union.” 

The real California Credit Union, which has a branch at 701 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale, warned of smishing attempts by scammers on its website: “CCU is not sending text messages to members or non-members,” the website said. “CCU will never send a text message, e-mail or call you directly asking for any account or personal information.” 

The text contained a warning about my credit union service and instructed that I call the 248-number sent with the text. 

A robotic-sounding voice answered instructing me to enter my credit card number — I dialed a fake number.

The voice proceeded to tell me that the call would be monitored or recorded for “quality assurance.” Twice more, the recording asked for my credit card information, and I again entered a fake number. 

I’ve since called the number again, and was greeted with, “This mailbox is full, and cannot accept new messages at this time.”

Several postings on 800notes.com, a Web forum dedicated to people’s complaints about annoying calls from mystery phone numbers, said that in the time it took to write this post, five people had received the same text.

Like me, three people claim to be Glendale residents and use Sprint as their cell phone service provider.

DOWNTOWN — A 19-year-old man arrested in connection with the death of his father was ordered Tuesday to stand trial for one felony count of involuntary manslaughter.

Noah Timothy Loock, of Burbank, was ordered to appear Jan. 15 in Pasadena Superior Court for a second arraignment following the 2008 death of his father Timothy Loock, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley.

The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on Nov. 29, 2008, when police responded to a fight at the family home in the 1800 block of North Avon Street, authorities said.

Timothy Loock, 48, was rendered unconscious and transported to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said.

Noah Loock fled the scene and was taken into custody later that day and booked on suspicion of killing his father, Quesada said.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office filed no charges at that time, and the investigation continued until the Los Angeles County coroner’s office ruled the official cause of death as a homicide, police said.

Coroner investigator Denise Bertone said a Dec. 2, 2008 autopsy revealed that Timothy Loock died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and neck.

Noah Loock, a 2008 graduate of Burroughs High School, was released from custody on $25,000 bond.

Timothy Loock, an all-league wide receiver for the class of 1978 at Burbank High, went on to coach receivers and defensive backs at his alma mater until his death last season.

From the La Cañada Valley Sun

On Dec. 8, 1985, an intentionally-set fire destroyed a small retail shop in the garment district in downtown Los Angeles. One person was killed, and Rosie Sanchez, a single mother of four, was charged and convicted of first-degree murder.

Twenty-nine years later, Jennifer Farrell, a 1999 La Cañada High School graduate and second year student at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law School, is trying to secure parole for Sanchez, who she believes was falsely convicted.

Working with the Post Conviction Justice Project, a clinical program at USC Law that gives students hands-on experience, Farrell travels regularly to the California Institution for Women (CIW) in Corona on a regular basis to meet with Sanchez and prepare her for the grueling parole process.

Farrell has already scored a major victory. In mid-October, the California parole board found Sanchez suitable for parole. The recommendation will go before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in February.

The case against Sanchez was riddled with holes from the start, Farrell said. At the time of the incident, Sanchez, a Mexican immigrant who spoke no English, was operating her own small shop two storefronts down from the scene of the fire. The prosecution argued that the crime was financially motivated, Farrell said, and that Sanchez’s business was suffering from unwanted competition brought on by her neighbor. Tax records show, however, that her shop was prospering.

In addition, the defendant had multiple witnesses to corroborate her alibi — she was with her children at a friend’s house at the time the crime took place. Sanchez’s public defender called only one witness, Sanchez’ sister, to the stand to testify. It is normal, Farrell said, for jurors to disregard a witness who is related to the defendant because jurors assume such a witness would be willing to lie.

For more of this story, read here

Burbank Police arrested a 23-year-old resident who allegedly stabbed his cousin in the neck Tuesday in the doorway of his apartment, authorities said.

Eddy Paez, of Burbank, stood in the doorway of his cousin’s apartment in the 200 block of East Verdugo Avenue and beckoned him out, police said.

The 21-year-old victim, who later told police he “had no idea” what might have provoked Paez, stepped outside, and was stabbed with a large knife.  The victim fought back and was able to run away, Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said.

Officers spotted Paez at about 10 p.m. in the area of Victory Boulevard and Verdugo Avenue. They chased him through the backyards of neighborhood residences before finding him hiding in the bushes, Quesada said.

A 22-year-old resident who made arrangements to sell Apple iPhones out of the trunk of his car Tuesday in downtown Burbank fought off two alleged attackers after being sprayed with a substance, possibly pepper spray, authorities said.

The victim, who agreed to sell two iPhones via Craigslist, met with two potential buyers about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Corner Bakery at 800 N. San Fernando Blvd, police said.

When the victim unlatched the truck of his car to display the phones, one of the suspects sprayed something in his eyes, causing him to temporarily lose sight, Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said.

The victim then fought with the suspects before they ran off without the phones. Officers responded to the scene but were not able to find the suspects, described as black and in their 20s. They were last seen driving a dark sedan, police said.

A $12,000 bronze statue was stolen from the front yard of a residence in the 4900 block of Oakwood Avenue in La Cañada over the weekend, authorities said.

The statue is 4 feet tall and depicts a child kicking a soccer ball, authorities said.

“Someone may have wanted it bad, for themselves or for the metal,” Sgt. Ray Harley with the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.

The statue was stolen Nov. 20-22, and no witnesses to the crime have come forward. If you have any information reguarding the theft, call the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station at (818) 248-3464.

From the La Cañada Valley Sun

Security guards at the Jet Propulsion Labs parking lot on Thursday detained a man for allegedly stealing hubcaps, authorities said.

The guards called the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station at 4:45 p.m. after they saw Ara Badashian, 35, of Altadena, looking into someone’s car.

Security guards later found four stolen hubcaps in Badashian’s vehicle, authorities said.

“He was caught with hubcaps from a Toyota and a Volkswagen,” said Det. Rodger Burt of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station. “It was later determined the hubcaps were taken from other vehicles on that lot.”

Badashian, a parolee, was booked later that night. He is being held without bail at Twin Towers Correction Facility.

“We’re filing a case and presenting the case on Monday,” Burt said.

A Glendale man, who was shot at a car rental shop in Cathedral City on Oct. 29, died Monday at a Palm Springs hospital, officials said.

Setrak Balabanian, 44, died about 8:30 p.m. Monday, coroner’s officials said. 

According to Cathedral City Police, Balabanian’s 53-year-old business partner, Seyed Sajasi, shot him, then shot Northridge resident Joe Khachigian,49, and turned the gun on himself at Luxury Rent-A-Car in Cathedral City.

They were reportedly in business meeting when the shooting occurred.

Sajasi and Khachigian died at the scene.

Two suspects were arrested Monday morning in connection with a group of thefts of catalytic converters from cars in the area.

Ramon Villareal, 26, of Bell, Calif., and Jesus Araiza, 21, of Bell, Calif., were arrested on reasonable cause grand theft when their car was searched after a traffic stop at Foothill Boulevard and Young Drive, revealing a catalytic converter in the back seat. 

There have been eight catalytic converter thefts in the La Cañada and La Crescenta area since Nov. 1.

“They couldn’t provide any good reason to be in the area,” said Sgt. Ray Harley of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station. “They also had the tools used to commit the crime and the catalytic converter in their car, so they were booked for reasonable cause.”

Officials are looking for the car that the converter belonged to, likely a Toyota pick-up truck. 

“Until we have a victim come forward, we can’t charge [the suspects],” Harley said.

The Glendale Police Advisory Council will meet at 6 p.m. today in the council chambers at City Hall.

The council will get an update from police officials on the progress of the department’s new area command.

Police officials will also talk about drug use in the Crescenta Valley and what they are doing to combat it.

From the La Cañada Valley Sun

Unknown suspects got away with two guns and $800 that were stolen from a La Cañada Flintridge home in a burglary Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The guns, a pistol and a shotgun, were stolen from a house in the 5100 block of Alta Canyada Road between noon and 3:30 p.m., authorities said.

“Nobody saw anything,” said Sgt. Ray Harley of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station. “The deputies even knocked on a few neighbors’ doors and got nothing.”

For more of this story read here

Glendale Police Department officials provided the News-Press with a map, which plots 16 vehicle break ins that occurred Nov. 3 in northwest Glendale. Some of the vehicles’ windows were smashed only while others were burglarized.

Courtesy of the Glendale Police Department

Credit: Creative Commons

Glendale Police sent out an e-mail alert today, advising residents that 16 burglaries occurred Nov. 3 in northwest Glendale.

The items most commonly stolen were left visible inside the cars. Thieves went for small, but big-ticket items such as navigation systems, iPods, purses and expensive sunglasses.

• Police advised residents to lock their cars.
• Remove all valuables from cars.
• Make sure the gates are closed at your apartment building carport.
• Call police if you see suspicious activity.

From the Burbank Leader:

WEST BURBANK — A 21-year-old Burbank man shot and killed himself Wednesday afternoon while at the Firing-Line indoor shooting range on North Lake Street in Burbank, authorities said.

The shooting is being treated as a suicide, Burbank Police Sgt. Travis Irving said.

Officers were called to the indoor range at 1060 N. Lake St at 1:10 p.m. where they closed the site to the public for the investigation. The man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of his family, entered the range and rented a handgun. He died at the scene after a single gunshot to the head, police Sgt. Thor Merich said.

The investigation is ongoing, with an official cause of death yet to be determined by Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Despite taking requisite safety precautions, the range has had a deadly history. In June, a 64-year-old Burbank man and regular at the range shot himself to death at the range. And last year, a 25-year-old Glendale man used a rented handgun and ended his life inside the firing range. No other people were injured in those incidents.

Click here for more on this developing story.

From the La Cañada Valley Sun:

A Pacoima man was arraigned last week on charges of mail theft and bank fraud for having cashed stolen checks belonging to two La Cañada Flintridge residents, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman.

Anthony Richard Thurn, 31, was indicted by a grand jury after having been arrested Oct. 2 in Sunland, according to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. District Court of Central District of California.

Thurn, who is charged with four counts of bank fraud and two counts of possession of stolen mail, remains in custody without bail. He is a parolee with four felony convictions, according the complaint.

“Thurn was arrested and in court was ordered to be held without bond,” said U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Thom Mrozek. “The trial is set for Dec. 8.”

For more of this story, read here

From the Burbank Leader:

WEST BURBANK — Police are searching for an unidentified man they say sexually battered a 14-year-old girl at the John Burroughs High School tennis courts Tuesday evening.

The girl was on campus about 5 p.m. after watching a tennis match when the man caught her off guard, approached her from behind and folded his arms around her in a bear hug, authorities said.

She was alone and thought the surprise embrace came from someone she knew, Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said.“She thought it was a friend, but then she noticed that he was basically copping a feel,” Quesada said. “She just stood there motionless, kind of shocked like ‘What the heck just happened?’”

Full story here.

From Los Angeles Times & staff reports:

A gunman approached a North Hollywood synagogue this morning and shot two people before fleeing, according to police.

Los Angeles Police Department officials said they are still attempting to determine the motive for the shooting, though the incident is being looked into as a possible hate crime.

The shooting occurred at 6:20 a.m. at the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic synagogue in the 12000 block of Sylvan Street.

Two men about 30 years old were each shot in the lower torso and were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition, according to an LAPD spokesperson. The LAPD described them as Jewish.

LAPD sources told The Times that the gunman approached the victims as they were about to enter the temple for morning prayers. The sources said the gunman pulled out his weapon and fired. The gun jammed at first, then he fired again.

Detectives don’t believe the motive was robbery, said the sources, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because the investigation is ongoing.

At about 7:40 a.m., Los Angeles police arrested a man near the synagogue, but the sources say they don’t believe he was the gunman.

LAPD officials have alerted other synagogues around Los Angeles about the shooting, and police have stepped up patrols at Jewish religious institutions.

The sources said detectives are trying to determine the motive, and whether the gunman acted alone or as part of a larger group.

Locally, Jewish leaders said they were not immediately concerned about the shooting. Rabbi Simcha Backman of the Chabad Jewish Center of Glendale and Foothills said the central Glendale synagogue was not taking any additional precautions. He said he was monitoring developments and keeping in contact with LAPD officials.

“They are not suggesting that we go into hyper-lockdown mode because they are not sure of the motive,” he said.

A middle-aged black man who robbed a Burbank Citibank Saturday appears to match the description of a suspect wanted in connection with a nearby bank robbery this summer, authorities said.

The suspect, who witnesses described as being between 45 and 50 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 pounds, walked into the Citibank at 360 E. Magnolia Blvd., handed the teller a note demanding cash and said he had a gun, Burbank Police Sgt. Robert Quesada said. The suspect then made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The incident closely mirrored the robbery of a downtown Chase Bank Aug. 20 in which the suspect handed over a similar note before being chased across the street by bank security into the Islands Restaurant parking lot at 101 E. Orange Grove Ave., where he was last seen.

Officers in both cases arrived within a couple minutes of the robbery and combed the area.

In the first robbery the suspect wore a black baseball cap, light blue T-shirt and dark slacks. He had a salt and pepper beard and was carrying a black briefcase, Quesada said.

The suspect in the second robbery had a beard, thin build and was wearing a dark blue baseball cap, dark-colored shirt and tight-fitting jeans.

Five people face multiple felony charges in connection with the beating and torture of two loan modification agents, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced today.

Daniel Weston, 52, of La Cañada and Gustavo Canez, 36, of Los Angeles were charged today with two counts of torture, two counts of false imprisonment by violence and two counts of second-degree robbery in the alleged attacks against Lamond Dean and Luis Garcia.

Weston and Canez also allegedly used a handgun during the assault, the complaint states.

Click here for more on this developing story.

From the Glendale News-Press:

GLENDALE — Testing is underway for approximately 80 ambulance operator hopefuls, who look forward to joining the Glendale Fire Department’s Basic Life Support emergency program.

Out of 218 applicants, 160 showed up for the department’s written exam and the remaining candidates have gone through interviews, said Glendale Fire Battalion Chief Greg Godfrey, who oversees emergency service operations.

Some of the candidates are locals, while others live in nearby cities, he added.

“We are looking for the most qualified candidates who will provide the best service to the community,” he said.

The candidates are competing for 20 positions on the Fire Department’s Basic Life Support program, which Godfrey said will now include an ambulance component.

Click here for the full story.