Crime Watch: Suspicious Persons, Thieves Target Cars in Foothills-Junction Neighborhoods

Suspicious Persons:

At 8:31 p.m. on March 2, officers responded to a citizen's report of a suspicious man loitering in a parking lot and pestering people in the 1900 block of Taylor Road.  A 56-year-old Roseville man was arrested on suspicion of prowling and violation of parole.

On the evening of March 3, residents reported a woman walking a neighborhood near Secret Ravine, knocking on doors, claiming affiliation with UC Berkeley and asking for money to support a battered women's shelter. Some residents gave her generous contributions.  She was described as a white female with medium-length dark hair, 5'8" tall and heavyset, wearing dark clothing.

A tip from Roseville Police:  Feel free to ask solicitors to show you their ID, their Roseville business license and their proof that they've registered with Roseville P.D., as required by the Roseville Municipal Code; or call the police department immediately to have suspicious solicitors checked out.  If you're interested in supporting a charity, rather than giving money to a solicitor on the spot, ask the solicitor for information in writing about the charity, and tell them you'll check it out. You can investigate the charity later, with no one pressuring you, using reputable Internet sites like Charity Navigator; if you still want to support the charity, you can mail a contribution to their published address.  If you don't want to be contacted by solicitors, post a "no soliciting" sign on your door.  By law, solicitors have to respect" no soliciting" signs and not knock.

Beware of “Quick Change Artist”

At about 7 p.m. on March 1, a clerk at a business on Harding Boulevard fell victim to a "quick change artist." The suspect gave the clerk five $20 bills and requested a $100 bill in exchange. The clerk handed him a $100 bill, and he showed her a $10 bill, claiming that was all she gave him.  Eventually he talked her into taking the $10 and giving him another $100 bill.  This is an old trick, where a fast talking suspect will take and give back change, eventually tricking a clerk into giving more change than is actually due.   The suspect was described as a black male in his 40s, 6'0" tall and 250 pounds, with a very short "buzz" haircut.

Copper, Metal Thefts:

Between Feb. 24 and 26, someone stole three 100-foot electrical cords from a construction site on Lixton Court.

Between 10 p.m. Feb. 29 and 6 a.m. March 1, someone stripped copper wire from a home under construction in the 2000 block of Leighham Drive.

At about 1 p.m. on March 2, someone stole a metal cage covering an air-conditioning unit at a home on Pipestone Loop. The suspect entered the property while construction workers were working onsite, claiming to be a real estate agent for the property, and took the cage.  He was described as a clean-shaven white male, 25-30 years old, 6'0" tall and 180 pounds, with short, dark "spiky" hair. He was driving a red full-size Chevy pickup with a trailer. He had other air conditioning cages in the back of his pickup.

Remote “Doorbell Ditch” Pranks Reported

At about 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, a resident of Tanzania Drive reported someone taped a spoon to her front window, with a fishing line attached to it.  The fishing line ran across the street to Kenwood Park. It appears someone may have been attaching a remote "knocker," so they could knock on the window and watch for a reaction from the homeowner from a distance. Officers did an area check but were unable to locate the suspects.

Sometime overnight Feb. 28/29, someone taped a spoon with a fishing line attached to the door of a business in the 100 block of Cirby Way. This appeared to be a remote "doorbell ditch" prank similar to the one on Tanzania Drive.

Disturbance, Arrest Made

At 10:30 a.m. on March 4, officers responded to physical assault in the 100 block of Ash Street.  The suspect fled from officers, jumping over fences.  Officers surrounded the area and eventually arrested a 40-year-old Roseville woman on suspicion of resisting arrest and parole violation.  She's being held in the Placer County Jail without bail.

Trespasser Walks into Officer's House, Arrested

On the afternoon of February 29, a man walked into two occupied houses in a residential neighborhood near Pleasant Grove Boulevard and East Roseville Parkway, looking for food and change. Unfortunately for him, the second house he walked into was the home of a Roseville police officer.  The officer detained the suspect and called for help, and on-duty officers responded and took the suspect into custody.   The suspect, a 34-year-old male transient, was arrested and is being held in the Placer County Jail on suspicion of burglary.

Prowler Arrested 

At 6:30 a.m. on March 2, a resident saw a man peeking into windows at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of Woodcreek Oaks Boulevard.  The man fled in a pickup. A witness got a description and license plate number of the suspect's pickup, and with that information, officers were able to locate and arrest a suspect.  A 27-year-old male from Roseville was arrested on suspicion of prowling and related charges.  He's being held without bail in the Placer County Jail on illegal immigration charges.

Residential Burglaries:

Saturday, March 3

Between the morning of March 3 and 9 a.m. on March 4, a home in the 1300 block of Meadowvista Way was burglarized while the residents were away.  Silverware and silver serving pieces were taken. The burglar made entry by kicking the front door.  Neighbors reported a man going door to door in the area on March 2.  He was described as a black male adult, approximately 30 years old, 6'0" tall with an average build and short hair (or bald), holding a clipboard. It's unknown if he had anything to do with the burglary.

Commercial Burglaries: 

Overnight on Feb. 28/29, someone used rocks to shatter the front door of a beauty salon in the 1900 block of Douglas, taking a cash drawer with a small amount of cash.  During the same time frame, on Feb. 29 between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., someone threw a rock and shattered the door of a restaurant in the 100 block of North Sunrise. No entry was made and nothing was taken.

Vehicle-Related Crime:

Overnight on Feb. 26/27, someone went into an unlocked vehicle in the 1300 block of Ridgerun Drive and took a portable GPS device valued at $250, an ID card and loose change.

According to Roseville Police, thieves have been having great luck at night in the Foothills-Junction neighborhood lately, finding unlocked cars to steal from. Don't let your car be one of them. Always lock your car and remove all valuable property; or better yet, park your vehicle in your locked garage overnight.

Between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Feb. 29, someone tried unsuccessfully to loosen a catalytic converter from a 2009 Subaru Forrester SUV at the 1800 block of Taylor Road.  Between 1:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. the same day, someone stole a white 2004 Ford F-350 pickup. The pickup is still missing.

On March 1, a red 1992 Honda Prelude that had been stolen from Sacramento the previous day was dumped in a driveway on Old Auburn Road, with two tires missing.  Officers notified the victim/vehicle owner and had the car towed.

Between 8:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on March 4, someone broke the window of a vehicle parked at Elliott Park on Cushendall Drive.

Between March 4 and 5, a gray 2010 BMW 2-door was stolen from a parking lot at the corner of Foothills and Junction. The Sacramento Police Department found it abandoned in their city on March 5, partially stripped.

Between 8 p.m. on March 4 and 1 a.m. on March 5, a black 1994 Honda Accord was stolen from an apartment complex at 1601 Vineyard Road. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies recovered the vehicle and arrested a suspect on March 6.

At about 12:10 a.m. on March 5, a resident of the 1800 block of Hillmont Way heard a noise, went outside and found that a fender flare had been taken from his Jeep. He saw a male running away and then driving away in a green 1990 Jeep Cherokee with a lifted suspension, mud tires, and a loud exhaust.  The suspect was described as a male, 5'8" to 5'9" tall, with a thin build, wearing a dark hat and dark sweater.

Sometime overnight March 5/6, someone broke into a vehicle on Shannon Way.

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