The following letter to the editor was published in the El Segundo Herald newspaper (HeraldPublications.com) on Thursday, February 24, 2011 in the Letters section on page 3. The El Segundo Herald has a strict 250-word limit.
Trash Tampering
I was very happy to see (via a complaining letter-to-the editor in the ES Herald) that the ESPD mounted a targeted offensive against the proliferation of CRV bottle thieves who have been prowling our streets, digging for recycle profits.
I am glad to read that the ESPD apparently made arrests in the case, because in the past the offenders have generally been ‘advised and released’, to leave with their stolen property.
Sadly, the writer of the letter seemed surprised that the arrests were made even though his neighbor would not have pressed charges. It should be made clear that a complaining witness/victim is not needed, as long as the officer sees the theft act.
Citizens can also make a citizens’ arrest for acts they witness, if the police officers did not see the act, or do not want to do an arrest. These matters may be trivial on their face, but these subjects are also casing residences and vehicles for burglary and bike theft.
The City has issued stickers to apply to trashcans for recycling. Perhaps, an add-on to the sticker (or a separate sticker) quoting the crime of Trash Tampering and Removal of Contents (ES Municipal Code; Title Five, Chapter Two; Paragraph Five) could be generated and applied to all recycling containers. This should be adequate notice to these gleaners.
Thank you for all increasing Police attention to this ‘quality of life’ issue.
J.R. Bob Siegel
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed