Police Log: Catalytic-Converter Theft Woes; Plus, Stolen Livermore Mail Found on Pleasanton Arrestee

A patrol officer at a Pleasanton park was approached Wednesday by a man seeking driving directions to Half Moon Bay.

Turns out the "lost motorist," a 31-year-old Turlock man, was a parolee  subject to a search clause, with reportedly stashed in his car stolen mail from at least 15 Livermore residents, along with "funny money" -- $5 bills altered to look like $50s and $100s, according to the Pleasanton Police Department.

He was accompanied by a female, 29, also from Turlock, who police suspected of being under the influence of controlled substances, records state.

The pair never made it to Half Moon Bay, diverted, instead, to Santa Rita Jail, where they were booked on charges, including possession of stolen property. Pleasanton detectives will coordinate with the Livermore Police Department to contact the mail-theft victims, police said.

And in other news, not even an alarm stopped thieves last week from swiping catalytic converters from a 2003 Toyota Sequoia  -- parked, locked and alarmed -- in a Springtown driveway.

The owner knew something was amiss the instant she started the car. "It made so much noise it sounded like it was going to blow up," said the Livermore resident. "I looked underneath and (the catalytic converters)  were gone."

Catalytic-converter thefts, listed here in police logs as "thefts of motor-vehicle parts," are a regional plague, as the metals are a hot commodity on the recycling front.

Twenty-two were stolen this month from a Newark business, and a spree was logged a few months ago in Pleasanton.

The Springtown resident completed repairs at a First Street muffler shop -- where she was informed she was the eighth such crime victim in a week.

Such thefts are so quick and simple, given proper tools, she was told, that converter removals do not even trigger car alarms.

An area law enforcement bulletin,

The Livermore woman opted to replace hers with aftermarket parts -- a cheaper fix, although still $1,500. The "aftermarket" route, she explained, could deter future thefts, as the parts are less valuable.

That is, of course, assuming crooks examine the goods before stealing. She added: "I hope they can read."

Saturday, April 20

• Commercial burglary reported 10 p.m. on 200 South Vasco Road.
• Vehicle reported stolen 2 p.m. along 5700 East Avenue.
• Theft logged on the 600 block of Everglades Lane 1:24 a.m.
• Theft from vehicle reported 10 p.m. along 100 Cascade Avenue; car break-in on 2400 Holmes Street 11:46 a.m.
• Brush fire logged 9:10 a.m. I-580 in Dublin.
• Warrants served: 1:30 p.m. and 11:43 a.m. First and south K streets.
• Use/influence of controlled substances reported 6:11 p.m. on the 1500 block of Pine Street. 
• steals $2,000 of Victoria's Secret bras at Stoneridge Shopping Center. Very similar incident reported two days earlier in Newark: Story here.
• Security upped after bomb threat at Chabot College.

Friday, April 19

• Two vehicles towed from Patterson Pass after notices to appear: 6:50 a.m. Patterson Pass and Greenville roads; 6:57 a.m. on 8700 Patterson Pass.
• Motorists with marijuana cited: 1:07 p.m. Olivina Avenue at North P Street; 9:47 p.m. First and South M streets.
• Battery reported 2:52 p.m. along 300 Lincoln Avenue.
• Domestic assault reported 4:55 p.m. on the 1700 block of Hollyhock Street.
• Theft reported 2:13 a.m. on 900 Bluebell Drive.
• Warrant arrest on 1000 Catalina Drive 4:40 p.m.
• Alameda County Sheriff's in Castro Valley. Female also struck, injured; arrested on drug charges.

Thursday, April 18

• Police obstruction reported 1:53 p.m. on 2300 North Livermore Avenue.
• Use/influence of controlled substances reported 3:09 a.m. on the 2200 block of North Livermore Avenue.
• DUIs: 11:06 p.m. First Street at Southfront Road; 9:58 p.m. I-580 at North Flynn Road.
• Vehicle reported stolen 9 p.m. on 1000 Airway Boulevard.
• Stolen vehicle recovered 2:35 p.m. along 800 Sungold Circle.
• Elder abuse/neglect reported 12:01 a.m. on the 2500 block of Leeds Court.
• Domestic assaults: 9:02 p.m. on the 3500 block of Leahy Way; 3:31 p.m. on the 100 block of Nadine Street.
• Narcotics sales reported along 1600 Pinehurst Court 11:14 p.m. 
• Car break-in: 9:30 a.m. Del Valle and Mendenhall roads.
• Shoplifting: 3:15 p.m. on 2700 Las Positas Road.
• Murder suspect to be tried as adult in death of Dublin paramedic.
• Oakland body could be missing Castro Valley man.

Wednesday, April 17

• Vehicle reported stolen 3 a.m. on 900 Springtown Boulevard.
• DUI: 12:32 a.m. Railroad Avenue at First Street.
• Suspended/unlicensed motorists cited: 8:13 a.m. Concannon Boulevard at Evans Street; 2:55 p.m. Clubhouse Drive at Airway Boulevard.
• Shoplifting reported 6 p.m. on 900 East Stanley Boulevard.
• Use/influence of controlled substances reported 9:53 p.m. on East Jack London Boulevard at Shasta Street.
• "Boom" sounds explained. 

Tuesday, April 16

• Narcotics possession reported 1:24 p.m. North Livermore Avenue at Chestnut Street, and 12:25 a.m. South L and First streets.
• Use/influence of controlled substances reported 12:15 a.m. on the 1100 block of South Livermore Avenue.
• Burglary reported 6:07 a.m. 14600 block of Patterson Pass Road.
• Suspended/unlicensed motorists cited: 6:45 a.m. East Avenue at Charlotte Way; 9:25 a.m. North Murrieta Boulevard at Olivina Avenue; 10:30 a.m. Scenic Avenue at North Vasco Road; 10:30 a.m. Maple Street at East; 1:03 p.m. Isabel Avenue at Discovery Drive; 2:45 p.m. Alden Lane at Holmes Street; 9:03 p.m. Madeira and Germaine ways.
• Bench-warrant arrest on 1600 Chestnut Street 9 p.m.
• Granada High School ex-teacher pleads no contest to sex charges.
• Isabel Avenue closed between Jack London and Stanley boulevards due to early morning traffic accident.

Monday, April 15

• Vehicle reported stolen 6:30 p.m. along 1500 Heidelberg Drive.
• Car break-in 9 p.m. on 700 Via Del Sol.
• Felony vandalism logged 7:54 p.m. El Rancho Drive at North Murrieta Boulevard.
• Bench warrants: 1:15 p.m. on 1100 South Livermore Avenue; 3:25 p.m. on 4300 Daffodil Way.
• Motorist with marijuana cited on Silver Oaks Street 6:57 p.m.
• Possession of controlled substances reported on 1800 Portola Avenue 8:47 a.m.
• Fake city inspector scams elderly Livermore couple.

Sunday, April 14

• Vehicle reported stolen 10:30 p.m. on 700 Shoemaker Drive.
• Stolen vehicle recovered 9:28 a.m. on 700 North K Street.
• Theft of motor vehicle parts logged 5 a.m. on the 400 block of Ridgecrest Circle.
• Car break-in 11 a.m. on 1400 Railroad Avenue.
• Theft from building on 2700 Las Positas Road 10 a.m.
• Domestic assault reported 3 a.m. on the 4700 block of First Street.
• Drunk-and-disorderly arrests: Livermore male 12:52 a.m. Via Granada and Verona Avenue; San Lorenzo male, 24, 1:44 a.m. on 800 Katrina Street; Livermore male, 23, 2:15 a.m. First Street at South Livermore Avenue; Livermore male, 18, 3:49 a.m. on 700 North L Street; Brentwood male, 19, 8:57 p.m. along 3500 Pacific Avenue.
• Contempt-of-court violations: 12:14 a.m. on the 2100 block Palomino Road; 5 p.m. along 5200 Felicia Avenue.
• Police obstruction reported 11:58 a.m. along 5200 Irene Way.
• Suspended/unlicensed motorists: 11 a.m. on 5800 Arlene Way; 6:35 p.m. 2400 Portola Avenue; 1:53 a.m. North Livermore Avenue and Las Positas Road.
• Concord serial killer hanged himself on death row: Story here.