On Sunday October 2, 2011, M.L.P.D. officers responded to Hollywood Soaps and Suds Laundromat for a burglary report. The business owner related that at about 0230 hours this morning (October 2, 2011), an unknown suspect forced entry to a coin/currency operated Coke machine inside his business and stole up to $500 in coin and currency. The business owner also estimated that the suspect caused about $500 in damage to the machine. The business is open to the public 24 hours a day and covered by motion activated security cameras.
The suspect is described as follows: Single suspect, most likely male, dressed in dark clothing, use a power drill to access the machine and steal the money. The suspect was wearing a dark baseball cap over a dark ‘hoody’ that was pulled up over his head, dark pants, dark shoes and dark gloves. There was white block letters visible on the front of the jacket. A ‘V’ was visible on the left side and a ‘M’ was visible on the right side. It is probable that the entire logo spelled ‘VOLCOM’, a local and popular snow board and clothing company. The suspect appeared to be hiding his face from the security cameras. The suspect carried a camera type bag. The bag was medium blue with two dark horizontal stripes that could have been a handle and zipper cover and a light colored vertical stripe. The bag also had a padded shoulder strap, which is how the suspect carried it.
If you have any information that can assist M.L.P.D., please contact Detective Hornbeck at (760) 934-2011 ext 17 or at [email protected]. You can be anonymous.
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I would recommend that the business owner not wait that long before he empties his vending machines. So not to give a thief the motivation to steal. We will always have those that have no morals with us. I hope this person gets caught and serves time for what they have done.
I’ll bet he wouldn’t be stealing if he had a pension.
Pensions for everyone 😉
“I’ll bet he wouldn’t be stealing if he had a pension.”
Or rather, a conscience.
For a town of 7-8,000 people (maybe 40,000 on a Holiday weekend w/ visitors) I feel VERY safe in Mammoth Lakes.
Wayne, please just stay in Lone Pine or wherever… and lock your doors and don’t ever go out.
This sort of “crime” happens everywhere. Your repeated bashing of the evils of Mammoth Lakes is as annoying as Upthecreek’s tirades on public pensions.
Yawn.
Maybe the guy doesn’t have a Public pension to fall back on..
Just for you Dave….
How about a still image from the camera?
Wayne, I guess we’ll go back to washboards and buckets like you
CL….Funny you’d say that….In the year 2000(Only 11 years ago),that is how I washed my clothes for 5 months……
Looks like Mammoth Lakes joins the long list, usually reserved for big cities, where crime and burglaries,and/or robberies are high,to where laundromats can no longer offer the public the convienience of staying open 24 hours.This time,a burglary…..maybe next time someone robbing a patron at gun-point at 0230 hours……..
I’m with you Wayne. I think it’s only the beginning of a slippery slope.
I avoid TOML and only drive through down to get the ski area
When are they going to FILL all the empty storefronts
Seems as if the only busy places in town are the Castoff and Vons
Sign of the time folks ..
Open up your eyes and look around
upthecreek, nothing can fill the empty store fronts but an improved economy.
and that isn’t going to happen.
Wayne, this was just one crime. Don’t panic. We’ve not become a big city with big city crime because of this commercial burglary. Mammoth Lakes has had 20 commercial burglaries this year and most of them are shoplift crimes. You’re safe to come visit us.
Chief Watson…..You know better than most….A burglary….commercial or residential,can turn real ugly real quick if someone happens to come to the scene while it is taking place…for the public,as well as Law Enforcement officers responding to the burglary.
That’s true, Wayne. I was responding to your comment that “Mammoth Lakes joins the long list, usually reserved for big cities, where crime and burglaries, and or robberies are high. . .” You’re suggesting that crime is high in Mammoth Lakes, or is increasing dramatically to the level of urban areas. It’s not.
Chief Watson…..understood….As far as your invite to safely come visit your town,thanks,but no thanks…not as long as there is a town about 25 miles north of you(Lee Vining) that still has trout in the creeks..or another 50 or so miles north (Bridgeport)that still has a lake with fish in it.Both nice,quiet laid back FAMILY FRIENDLY communities.Last time I went to Mammoth,it was on a television cableing job at the village,in the afternoon,and if I had $5.00 for every drunk in public person I happened to see acting all silly and loud and stupid that day,I’d be up in Bridgeport right now in a fancy motel… and later on to a big steak dinner for 2 at a fancy restaurant in town.
Mr Watson,,
Are you reading and responding to these blogs while at work..
???
Is this part of your job description?
Actually it is in his job description to listen to the community and respond to the issues that they bring up, in any format.
It is a shame that Chief Watson is the only administrator in Inyo or Mono counties that has the honesty and integrity to respond to people who post questions and make statements who do not use their names.
Bill Lutze on the other hand, reads canned statements or talks through his PIO Ms. Roper. Lutze is not up to honest well thought out questions about his department and it’s actions or lack thereof.
I don’t know what your ax to grind is with Sheriff Lutze, although it appears to be of a “personal nature” given your unsupported comments. The fact is, Lutze is very highly regarded by citizens of Inyo County, as well as within his department. That he doesn’t respond or make statements in a way that you apparently think he should, well, what of it? Many of those that know the Sheriff know him to be a thoughtful and considerate man, and not one to seek gratuitous publicity. We should thank our lucky stars that Lutze is not another Joe Arpaio…and that we don’t live in Arizona.
Furthermore, most agencies these days do use PIOs. Ms. Roper certainly does a perfectly good job as the Inyo County Sheriff’s PIO…and looks damn good while doing it. (Sorry Sheriff, but she is much better-looking!) If and when an issue comes up that requires Lutze to address it directly, I suspect he would have little problem in doing so. Nor do I doubt for one minute that he would do so in an articulate and thoughtful manner.
(WD, you cite no evidence of your initial comment on crime, particularly with respect to Mammoth Lakes. ESL, you do not cite even one example of where you feel Lutze is reading “canned statements” or using Ms. Roper to distance himself from a controversy or issue.)
As to Chief Watson’s responses to this forum, it is well within his job description to offer a response and interact with the community as he feels is best appropriate. the fact is, if this forum is an “inappropriate” setting, then what are any of us doing posting to it?
To the ML Chief’s credit, he is responding to a gross overstatement, actually something completely untrue, on the level of crime in Mammoth Lakes, made on this forum. It is perfectly within his rights as both a citizen and a public official to do so. I wish more of our public officials did so as well.
While I don’t live in Mono County, I certainly don’t find myself in fear of being a victim of crime when I do visit Mammoth Lakes or Mono County. Nor do I suspect do most other visitors…or residents.
Sometimes I do, upthecreek. I’m salaried which means I get to work as many hours as required. Remaining aware of current events and keep track of the pulse of the community is part of my job description.
Isn’t it nice to have a Police Chief who listens AND responds to public input ? How many other local politicians or administrators do the same ? Over the years, I have commented on many,many public forums and websites, and I have NEVER been directly answered by a Chief of Police until now.
Thank you for the courtesy, Chief.
Agree with Big Rick here…even if it causes did-agreements about things.
Actually, I would say that it should be part of his job description. Human relations is important. Even if your are an actual American Citizen like most or all the that bloggers on this thing. I am happy this Police Chief is making an effort to be in touch with his legal Citizens too. This is important to people.
whether you like what he has to say or not, he gets an A+ for reaching out to his community and making it clear to us all, that he is willing to hear all of us, weigh out his response, give us his answer, and move on.
Human relations. Definately part of the job description, in my mind.