Two suspects from Richmond, CA that went on a crime sapree in Santa Monica have been caught.

Two suspects have been arrested and charged on suspicion of committing two counts each of burglary from a vehicle and grand theft. On April 24, 2024, at 12:24 pm, a dark colored Nissan Altima with three occupants pulled into the Chevron at 1344 Santa Monica Boulevard and stopped next to the open car door of a vehicle getting gas. One of the suspects took the victim’s purse from the front seat.

At about 12:30 pm, the same Altima pulled into the Sinclair gas station at 1944 Pico Boulevard and stopped in front of the second victim’s vehicle at the pumps. The rear passenger in the Altima opened the victim’s car door, took the victim’s purse, and fled with the other suspects. About 30 minutes later, the same suspects shattered the window of a vehicle parked at the Shell station at 1866 Lincoln Boulevard and stole a laptop, iPad, and other property.

The suspects were tracked and arrested with the assistance of the Hawthorne Police Department. Officers recovered several hundred dollars and most of the victims’ property.

On April 26th, the LA County District Attorney’s office filed felony burglary and grand theft charges (487a PC and 459 PC):



Lopez, Raul Santino of Richmond, CA (DOB: 12/27/2003)

Vega, Agustin Jesus of Richmond, CA (DOB: 02/23/2003)

None of the arrestees have a significant arrest history in California.

Anyone with information related to this incident or these individuals is encouraged to contact Detective Tavera at Hector.Tavera@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander 24 hours at 310-458-8427.

On Sunday morning, several people observed a man walking on the Venice Pier hiding what they said looked like a rifle under a jacket he was carrying. They informed some police officers that were in the area to enforce the No Dogs On the Beach law. It ended up being a fake rifle, which the man let the police have.

Josh “Bagel” Klassman is an Underground Documentary style Photographer from Venice. Josh grew up surfing the Venice Break Water and skating at the Venice Pavilion.

We Are Venice showcases the people and culture of Venice Beach, California and will inspire you to be the best version of yourself. This is a series of premium documentary profile pieces on Venice’s most important and influential individuals.

Meute is an eleven-piece self-described techno marching band from Germany. The band arranges techno, house and deep house works by well-known DJs, augmenting them with electronic beats created by marching band instruments.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Venice Healer Daisy along with her fiancé Jeff Kupers and a team of volunteers, stepped in to support the community by feeding the homeless on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. This initiative came as a response to the illness of Dan Hubbard, the founder and CEO of Oasis, who was recently sidelined and unable to continue his work.

Daisy and Jeff began their day early, using the Oasis van to collect donated food items from Whole Foods and Vons. They then transported these provisions to Venice Beach, where volunteers were ready to distribute them. The assortment of donated food included fresh fruits and vegetables, pastries, cookies and desserts, baked breads, and various protein options.

The couple plans to continue this vital service, providing meals to the unhoused while Dan is recovering. Their efforts align with the broader mission of Oasis Network, which has a long-standing tradition of reaching out to the homeless, not only on weekends at Venice Beach but also on weekdays in Redondo.

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) will conduct a Bike & Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation with focused enforcement efforts on primary collision factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Police Department identifies locations where pedestrian and bike collisions are prevalent, along with the violations that led to those collisions. Traffic officers will be on duty patrolling areas where bike and pedestrian traffic and collisions occur in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Officers will be looking for violations committed by drivers, bike riders and pedestrians alike that can lead to life changing injuries. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

These extra enforcement efforts will take place on Friday, May 3, 2024 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car. Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”

Pedestrians

· Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.

· Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.

· Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

· Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.

· Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers

· Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

· Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

· Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

· Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.

· Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

· Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.

· If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.

· Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections. 

The Pacific Wheel will light up in red, white, and green from Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5 in celebration of Cinco de Mayo 2024.

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “Fifth of May”, is a yearly celebration held on May 5. It commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This victory is notable because the Mexican army prevailed over the larger and better equipped French force.

Widely celebrated in Southern California, Cinco de Mayo was first commemorated in Columbia, California, just days after the historic battle. Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news of the victory that they spontaneously let off fireworks, sang patriotic songs and made speeches.

Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexico’s Independence Day. This is celebrated on September 16, and commemorates the “Cry of Delores” (the call to revolt) that initiated the Mexican War of Independence. Cinco de Mayo has now become associated with a more general celebration of Mexican-American culture.

We’re honoring the occasion by lighting the Pacific Wheel in the colors of Mexico. Enjoy this special event from Friday, May 3 through to Sunday, May 5. You can see the Pacific Wheel lights from dusk until 11:35 PM each evening.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

As part of Safe on PCH week, the Michel Shane film, 21 Miles Film, will be screened at Malibu High School on Wednesday, May 1st.

As part of Safe on PCH Week, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, in partnership with Malibu High School, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and Malibu High School PTSA, will be hosting a film screening of the Michel Shane film, 21 Miles Film.

Panelists: Captain Jenn Seetoo, Captain Dennis Ford, Robert D Cohen, Michel Shane, & Bridget Thompson

"21 Miles in Malibu" follows the incredible history of Malibu, the story of the Pacific Coast Highway, and the people most affected by it all. It shows the dichotomy of this small town - a seemingly idyllic paradise devastated by a high-speed highway ripping through its heart. The documentary chronicles the lives of those affected, further exemplifying the dangers of the frequently traveled road and leaving viewers wondering why stricter regulations are not in place to prevent future damage.

Wednesday, May 1 · 6:30 - 8:30pm PDT Malibu High School
30215 Morning View Drive Malibu, CA 90265

For more info & to RSVP (required) for this free event, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Who’s counting days til May 4th at Malibu?!?! We can’t wait to share the stoke, countless smiles and good times with all our AWOW Athletes, volunteers, families and friends. Come support if you can and big thanks to all our ‘Bu partners and people who make these events possible. See ya soon




For more info, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.