Crime Blotter: Smoker Stocks Up.

The following incidents were reported to the of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Smoker Suspected

The owners of Altadena Express, 2271 Foothill Blvd., reported to deputies that sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday, March 6 and 7:45 a.m. Monday, March 7, their business was burglarized. A padlock on the back door had been removed and the cash register opened, presumably with the pair of scissors found lying on the floor nearby. The owners noted that several people had keys to the padlock but did not think that any of them would have broken into the store. Despite a search that included the inside of a dumpster, the padlock was not found.

The cash register, valued at $1,200 was damaged and $2,500 in currency stolen. Also taken were 20 cartons of Marlboro, Camel, Benson and Hedges, Parliament, and Capri cigarettes.

Pilferer Foiled

On Monday, March 7, a 48 year-old mother was dropping her daughter off at the , 1200 Foothill Blvd., when she realized that she had forgotten to lock her parked car. Having been away from the vehicle for only five minutes, the woman returned to see a man, wearing a white shirt and dark pants, leaning into the car through the open driver’s door. She described him as a 30-35 year old Hispanic male with black hair, approximately 5’10” and 175 pounds.

The woman yelled “Hey!” causing the suspect to hop into a silver mini van with paper license plates, and take off westbound down Foothill Boulevard. The woman got into her own car and chased after the suspect but lost sight of him.

She reported that her purse and wallet, left on the passenger seat of her car, had been opened and appeared to have been searched through. Nothing, however, was reported missing.

A Night Out, Perhaps?

A 43 year-old male resident of the 4800 block of La Cañada Boulevard reported stolen from his home a watch, some cologne, and a flashlight.

The victim stated that the Hamilton watch, worth $1,200, was missing from a paper box located on the floor of his home office, while the cologne had been in a bedroom cabinet, and the flashlight inside a desk. He noted that between 8 a.m. and noon that day a technician from Direct TV had been at the residence for about two hours.

The victim said that while his mother was in the home at the time, the technician was unattended and had access to the office, the bedroom, and the bathroom where the missing items had been located. But, according to the report, before leaving, the technician gave his phone number to the mother.

Bushes a Bad Idea

On Wednesday, March 13th, a 13 year-old male told deputies that he had hidden his backpack in the bushes outside of the because he was tired of carrying it with him. Stopping into the store between 3 and 3:30 p.m., the student abandoned his Dakine pack containing earbuds, house keys, and two textbooks and could not find it again despite searching inside trashcans and talking to store employees. The total value of all missing items was reported to be $130.

Stereo, Key Missing

A 27 year-old man reported that someone stole his Sony Playstation, valued at $300, from the bed of his Toyota Tacoma pick up truck while parked along the 1400 block of Verdugo Ave. on March 12. Also reported stolen was the key to the truck, which had been left sitting on the driver’s seat of the unlocked vehicle.

Purse Stolen from Church Parking Lot

An unidentified person broke into a car parked at the , 1830 Foothill Blvd. and stole a purse with $1,360 inside.

Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on March 13, a 37 year-old female stated while at the church, she had left her car locked and her purse, hidden behind the center console. Upon returning to the parking lot, she discovered the vehicle’s passenger door lock to be damaged and the purse gone. The purse contained $1,360 in currency.