Off-Duty Captain Witnesses Grand Theft, Directs Deputies to Suspect 

January 10, 2024 - Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials report that on Monday afternoon, Captain Hahnlein was off duty at a business near the 2600 block of Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta. While he was there, he observed a theft had occurred from the location. He called the station and directed responding Deputies to the last seen location for the perpetrator. He also gave an accurate description of what the suspect was wearing.

One of the responding Deputies was a seasoned Detective at our station. He used his training and experience to find the suspect and detain him pending a theft investigation. Other personnel searched the area and found the stolen items. The suspect was positively identified and arrested for grand theft. He was booked at Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station.

Even when we are off duty, our personnel are ready to be a good witness and report criminal activity. In this instance, the Captain's alertness helped catch a criminal and return the stolen items to the rightful owner. Further, the great teamwork from our Deputies ensured a quick response and the safe apprehension of the suspect.

Source & photo: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department