Blotter: Chain Battery; Stolen Cockatoo

The investigated burglaries—commercial, residential and vehicle—and a couple of car thefts, according to the department's Part I crime recap covering reports received July 19 through last Wednesday.

In addition, the Torrance Police Department handled both a battery and a burglary in the Hollywood Riviera on July 16, according to its weekly crime recaps.

Battery in Hollywood Riviera

Someone beat up a man in the 300 block of Paseo de la Playa in the Hollywood Riviera at 2 a.m. on July 16, Torrance police reported. The assailant repeatedly punched the victim, then struck him and his vehicle with a heavy chain.

Commercial burglaries in Redondo Beach

On the afternoon of July 23, a woman requested entry into a secured apartment building in the 400 block of South Pacific Coast Highway in South Redondo Beach so she could turn in a rental application, police reported. Once she was inside, she opened packages left near the mailbox and stole clothing. Police reports described the thief as a 25-year-old Hispanic woman, standing 5 feet 7 inches with a heavy build. She had blond hair with dark roots.

A cherry-breasted cockatoo named Cherry, along with some jewelry, were stolen overnight between July 21 and July 22 from a business in the 800 block of Avenue B in South Redondo Beach. The thief pried open the side door to get in.

Oswaldo Cerratoantunez was arrested July 17 on suspicion of burglary after steaks, ribs and shrimp were stolen from a business in the 4000 block of Inglewood Avenue in North Redondo Beach. Police believe he walked into the open business and posed as a refrigerator repairman in order to steal the meat.

Two burglaries were attempted at a business in the 2500 block of Santa Fe Avenue between the afternoons of July 11 and July 17. The first time, someone tried to use a drill tool on the real estate lockbox holding the key to the front lobby door; the second, someone tried to remove a large sheet of glass in the front lobby window. No loss was reported.

Residential burglaries in Redondo Beach

Someone stole cash, an SKS rifle and a 20-round rifle magazine after entering a residence through the rear sliding glass door in the 1100 block of Barbara Street the evening of July 20.

A bicycle was stolen from the garage of a residence in the 1400 block of the Esplanade during the afternoon or evening of July 15.

In the evening of July 17, someone stole a Breitling watch and wedding bands from a residence in the 400 block of North Prospect Avenue. The person entered the residence through an open back door.

Someone pried open the front window of a residence in the 600 block of the Village early in the afternoon of July 17 and stole a hybrid bicycle and a Sony laptop.

A burglar removed the front window of a home in the 2100 block of Vanderbilt Lane on July 11 and stole cash and a key to the residence.

Residential burglary in Hollywood Riviera

Torrance police reported that at least one person in the Hollywood Riviera through an open window in the early afternoon of July 16. The person stole watches and jewelry.

The Daily Breeze reported that Torrance resident Thomas Bird, 42, was arrested on suspicion of burglary in the case after police followed him through the neighborhood.

Vehicle burglaries in Redondo Beach

Police are still trying to figure out how someone got into a 1999 Chevrolet Express van parked in the 400 block of Emerald Street in South Redondo Beach between noon July 21 and 7:30 a.m. July 22. The burglar stole tools, drills, sanders, saws, a nail gun and a tile cutter.

Someone used a punch on the driver's side door lock to break into a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe parked in the 2100 block of 190th Street between the evening of July 22 and early morning of July 23. The person cut the car's battery cable to disable the alarm and punched the ignition in an attempt to steal the vehicle, police said. The attempt to steal the SUV was unsuccessful; however, the person stole the car's AM/FM/CD stereo.

A burglar stole a purse, wallet, iPod and multiple gift cards from a 1995 Chevrolet Astro van parked in the 1100 block of Stanford Avenue between the afternoon of July 22 and the early morning of July 23.

Stolen and recovered vehicles in Redondo Beach

A 2005 silver Honda Accord was stolen from the 1900 block of Huntington Lane at some point between last Monday evening and 11 a.m. Tuesday. Redondo Beach police recovered the car on Tuesday.

A 2010 black Mercury Mariner, license No. 6MVD065, was stolen from the 1300 block of Carmelita between the mornings of July 19 and July 20.

A maroon 1989 GMC Suburban, license No. 2PEB649, was stolen from the parking lot of the South Bay Galleria during the early afternoon of July 19.

Officers from the Inglewood Police Department on July 19 recovered a red 1984 Toyota pickup that had been stolen between July 12 and July 13 from the 2000 block of Mathews Avenue in North Redondo Beach.

Redondo Beach officers found a red 2001 Dodge Ram pickup July 17 that had been stolen June 15 from the 100 block of North Harbor Drive in South Redondo Beach.

Questions on this blotter should be addressed to editor Nicole Mooradian at nicole.mooradian@patch.com.