On August 8, 2016, at about 1:22 am, the Azusa Police Department received a call about a suspicious subject standing in front of a donut shop in the 700 block of E. Alosta Avenue. The subject was wearing a mask and dark clothes.

When police officers arrived, the subject was not located. Officers searched the area and discovered the donut shop and a laundry shop had been burglarized. The windows to these businesses had been shattered, and empty cash register trays were found in a nearby trash dumpster. An estimated loss of at least $300.00 had been stolen.

Through their investigation, the officers at the scene notified other officers a Honda passenger vehicle was involved in the burglary. An officer on patrol spotted the Honda, and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle.

After checking the store's video surveillance recordings, and with the recovery of evidence, the occupants of the vehicle were arrested. Manuel Jaramillo (Age 34 of Pacoima) and Lawrence Alicea (Age 65 of Los Angeles) were charged with violation of section 459 PC - Commercial Burglary. They are each being held on $20,000.00 bail at the Azusa Police Department Jail, pending their arraignment at Citrus Court. 

Your Tips and Calls Help Us Catch Criminals

It's situations like the one described above where the community and police can work together to reduce or eliminate crime. Regardless of how trivial something may appear, please call the police when you feel something isn't right or is suspicious. We have found that people's instincts are a pretty good judge of a situation or person. If it's an emergency, call 911. If not, call us at (626) 812-3200 if you are in Azusa. If not, call your local police department where the activity is occurring.