Alhambra residents received a timely reminder about street-side car security this week, courtesy of the Alhambra Police Department (APD). According to a post on their official Facebook page, an arrest was made when officers were called to the intersection of Main St. and Cordova St. There, they investigated a suspicious individual who had been reportedly peeking into vehicles and testing door handles in search of an unlocked car.
Christian Leonyet of Alhambra, CA, found himself in handcuffs after police observed him continuing this behavior down the street on Almansor St During the follow-up, it became clear that Leonyet was no stranger to law enforcement — he had several outstanding warrants for his arrest at the time of his apprehension. This information was shared by the Alhambra Police Department in their social media update on the case.
In a somewhat wry conclusion to their announcement, APD noted that "the only door that opened for him was the one to the back of our patrol car." Beyond reporting on the incident itself, the police department used the opportunity to issue public safety advice to local car owners. Their recommendations are succinct: Lock your car, which they claim takes a mere two seconds — they've apparently got timing down to a science; remove all valuables and do not leave them in the vehicle; and be vigilant, urging citizens to contact the APD if they notice individuals taking an undue interest in cars that aren't their own.
Community reactions to the arrest and subsequent advice were mixed, with some praising the diligence of Alhambra's finest while others questioned the efficacy of their approach and the frequency of similar incidents in the area, indicating perhaps a deeper issue that patrols and arrests might not fully address, even when they effectively result in an arrest. However, what stands clear from APD's social media post is a commitment to proactive community engagement in the fight against petty crime, reaffirming that basic preventative measures like locking doors can be the first line of defense for residents to protect their belongings.
