OTAY RESIDENT HIDES FOR HOURS TO CATCH CRIMINALS STEALING PACKAGES

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Police release photos of items believed stolen from other homes including coins, shoes, phones, camera accessories,  and Nano copter

By Miriam Raftery

March 28, 2014 (Otay Mesa) –An Otay resident,  tired of having his delivered mail items stolen from his front yard, decided to take action and detained four juvenile males ages 15 and 16 as they attempted to steal a package from his front yard yesterday.  He armed himself with a baseball bat, a pet Rottweiler, and a cell phone.



On Wednesday,  Chad Bear, who lives at 1480 Trailwood Ave in the Otay area of Chula Vista learned that his neighbor found packaging material in his yard with Bear's address on it. Bear realized that mail items delivered by the US Postal Service to his home had been stolen by thieves who unwrapped them and threw packing material into his neighbor's yard. The next day, Bear decided to hide in the bushes across the street to see who would take a package from his front yard delivered that day.

At about 2:00 p.m., after waiting for more than two hours, Bear saw four male juveniles walk past his home and stop to take interest in the package sitting on his porch. A few moments later the juveniles returned and one walked up and grabbed the package from Mr. Bear's front yard and began to walk back towards the group.

Bear jumped from his hiding place and ordered all the juveniles to remain on scene as he called 911. Minutes later police arrived and arrested the suspects. They were found in possession of other items believed to be stolen including toy airsoft handguns.

The juveniles were arrested, questioned, and released to their parents. Police, who received cooperation from the parents, were able to recover more property believed to be stolen from other residents in a similar fashion.  (See photos below). The items consisted of toys, silver Canadian coins, Kenneth Cole shoes, cell phones, Canon camera accessories, an LED Picture light, a Nano copter, as well as a fireproof suit, to be used while working on motorcycles, purchased (but never received) by Bear. The suit was returned to Mr. Bear on scene and valued at about $160.00.

Chula Vista Police Property Crimes Division is asking citizens to call if they recognize the items as something they may have ordered in the mail, but never received.

View items:

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Please call Detective Joe Page at (619) 409-3875 or the Chula Vista Police Department non-emergency line at (619) 691-5151 and ask for Property Crimes.

While the Chula Vista Police Department urges caution to citizens who attempt to detain criminal suspects on their own, a release issued by the police adds, “We do appreciate cooperation and coordination with our citizens in stopping crime.”


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