Crime Spree Suspect In Custody!

Anthony Hislar, a 26 year old who has bedded down in Ventura, Orange and LA Counties over the years, was taken into custody on a burglary warrant after exiting Disneyland in Anaheim on Wednesday, September 24th. Hislar is suspected in a series of crimes that wound from Azusa, through Arcadia and into Rosemead. Hislar leaves quite the trail behind him, not only in recent days, but in recent years. A quick web search reveals news reports of arrests dating back to 2005 and 2001. Based on Hislar's behavior, once he was identified, there was an obvious need to get him off the streets. Investigators continued to gather evidence in this series of crimes and utilized the existing warrant to arrest Hislar and put an end to his activity. Detectives from each of the involved agencies have worked together in a great demonstration of teamwork; Los Angeles County Sheriff - Temple Station, Arcadia PD, Azusa PD and other allied agencies continue to participate in the investigation.

Tuesday Tip - Tailgating

Following Too Closely is the technical phrase for Tailgating. Unfortunately, it is a term that is all too often used in collision reports as the “Primary Collision Factor”. Maintaining distance between vehicles while driving is one main key in preventing collisions. Even the best driver, with great reaction time, still takes a moment to perceive the need to slow or stop, and then apply the vehicle brakes.

Increasing following distance between vehicles increases our ability to perceive a problem, apply brakes if needed or take some other evasive action. Time and distance is your friend when it comes to speed. As a young driver, you are taught about the Three Second Rule. Sometimes we forget this one important piece of advice. But maintaining a following distance of three seconds between vehicles will definitely increase your ability to avoid a rear end collision. An alternate recommendation is to maintain a following distance of one car length per 10 mph while driving. So, if you are driving 65 mph on the freeway, you should be about 6-7 car lengths behind the vehicle in front of you.

Don’t become overconfident, either in your ability as a driver or in your vehicle. Remember the basic rules and greatly increase your chance to avoid a collision. Think about this; tailgating the car in front of you is not going to "push" them out of the way or down the road. Your disregard for safe following distance will only increase your chances of causing a collision. Take a breath, take your time and we'll all get there in one piece.

Tuesday Tip (Friday Edition) "Do Not Hesitate to Call the Police"

An article was recently posted on the City and Department website that contains some great information. Click on the title below to view the entire article. Here is a brief excerpt;

Do Not Hesitate to Call the Police

In recent months, there has been an increase in residential burglaries in
our community. In most cases, a residential burglary begins with some type
of suspicious activity within a neighborhood, often in broad daylight.
This activity may range from unknown vehicles perusing the area, to
individuals going door to door, determining whether or not residents are
home. These individuals will most likely have a driver waiting for
them, for a quick getaway in case someone begins to question their
actions. Many times, after burglaries have occurred and after suspects
have escaped, our reports indicate that at least one resident in the
immediate area did in fact witness this, or some other type of activity prior to
the crime, but for some reason, did not think more of it, or simply did not want
to inconvenience the police.

Car Thieves Beware!

The Arcadia Police Department began using a new tool in combating crimes and wants associated with vehicles this week. The Department has purchased four, mobile based, automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems that are installed on patrol units. The system is manufactured by Federal Signal/PIPS Technology and is currently in use in many other agencies.

Simply speaking, cameras on the police unit read license plates on vehicles and then compare the plates read to those listed on a computer database. The vehicle and plate are also photographed. If there is a “hit” on the plate, such as a felony want or stolen vehicle, the PIPS system alerts the Officer who can then take action. If there is no hit, the vehicle information is stored in the database. The cameras work in daylight and darkness as they are equipped with infrared (IR) readers as well.

In addition to the use of this technology for recovering stolen vehicles and reducing auto theft, the system can be used to recover vehicles with excessive parking violations and as an investigative database as well. Investigators can conduct many different searches for suspect vehicles by use of the information collected by the PIPS system.

This is a great tool and will no doubt positively impact our ability to investigate all crimes involving use of a vehicle.

Santa Anita Canyon Road Closure

Santa Anita Canyon Road is scheduled for Gate/Road Closure from September 22, 2008 to October 10, 2007, on weekdays, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Weekends will remain open. Emergency vehicles will be accommodated at all times. People with a gate key will also be accommodated, but should expect a delay. The City of Arcadia will be repairing a storm drain, requiring the roadway to be closed.

Tuesday Tip - Leave the Car at Home!

Aside from the obvious reasons; helping to maintain your health by walking, saving fuel and reducing your monthly and ever increasing gas bill, pumping less pollutants into our air...there is a great reason coming up in October to leave your car at home; California's Walk to School Week, October 6th - 10th, 2008. The designated Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 8th.

Highland Oaks Elementary School in Arcadia has participated in this event for years. The PTA and School Administration encourages the entire student body to walk with their parents, not just this day, but throughout the school year. They have even offered prizes and incentives for the kids to participate. On the designated Walk to School Day, Highland Oaks even has arranged "guest" crossing guards that are stationed at various intersections heading toward the school. Some of the guests have included City Council Members, City Staff, Fire Fighters, Police Officers, and of course, parents. Kudos to Highland Oaks for their efforts and in setting the example for our kids!

Check with your local school and see if they have plans on participating in the California Walk to School Week! If not, maybe you can spearhead the event. Check the Walk to School website for resources and additional information.

Composite Released for Robbery Suspect

This composite was released on Friday, September 19th, and depicts the suspect in a series of robberies and carjackings that occurred in the City of Arcadia. Anyone with information is asked to call APD Detectives at (626) 574-5160. If seen, do not confront the suspect and please call your local police. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.

The suspect in these events is described as a male white or light skinned Hispanic in his twenties, 5’10” tall with a thin build and a shaved head. The suspect is heavily tattooed on his right forearm and he is armed with a silver handgun.