The Long Beach Police Department has arrested two individuals over the last two weeks that are responsible for numerous commercial burglaries, several which occurred along the East Anaheim Street corridor.
Through ongoing investigations, detectives were able to identify two separate individuals. The first suspect was identified as 52-year-old Norman Mainville of Buena Park. Detectives worked closely with East Division Patrol and provided officers a photo of Mainville, hoping to locate him. On April 1, 2015, patrol officers that had been actively searching for Mainville, located him in the area of 10th Street & Coronado Avenue, and took him into custody.
Through their follow-up investigation, detectives connected him to nine commercial burglaries that occurred in 2014 and 2015. They presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and Suspect Mainville accepted a plea, which resulted in an eight-year sentence. Investigators believe he may be responsible for additional burglaries and the investigation continues.
The second suspect was identified as 19-year-old Nathan Favela of Covina. He was [allegedly] connected through evidence to a commercial burglary at a bank in the 3100 block of E. Anaheim Street, which occurred on March 25, 2015. East Division Directed Enforcement officers, who were also provided his photo by detectives, located him last night, April 15, 2015, in the area of Anaheim Street & St. Louis Avenue, and arrested him. Investigators believe he may also be responsible for additional burglaries and will continue to investigate.
Patrol's quick response to requests for assistance from detectives was vital. Stated Detective Division Commander Paul LeBaron, "A team where patrol officers and detectives are working together towards the same goal creates results like those accomplished through this investigation."
A possible reason for the string of burglaries could be motivated by small businesses leaving a few hundred dollars of cash in their tills overnight. Stated by Burglary Detail Sergeant Brandon Deis, "This is a common practice by owners that provides enough money to employees opening in the morning to begin daily business operations. We recommend that businesses secure all their cash each night and leave their till(s) empty and open after hours." Doing so would allow would-be burglars to see that unsecured money isn't easily accessible.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents should contact the Long Beach Police Department's Burglary Detail at (562) 570-7351. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
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