Latest news with #TorrancePoliceDepartment
New York Post
30-07-2025
- New York Post
Brave mom chases down thieves, smashes window of getaway car with bare hand after catching them robbing her California home
A California mom bravely chased down two burglars she caught leaving her home and smashed out their getaway car's back window with her bare hand as they fled with her handgun and her son's piggy bank. Kiara Ortiz said she had just picked up lunch with her two children on Saturday when they spotted the thieves exiting from their Torrance apartment in southwestern Los Angeles. 'We were coming out of the car my son immediately said, 'Who is that?' and when I looked over I saw one of them with my kid's piggy bank,' Ortiz told ABC 7. 5 Kiara Ortiz caught the two burglars leaving her home in Torrance on Saturday. YouTube/ABC 7 The buglers immediately took off after being noticed, but the quick-thinking mom of two wasn't going to let them get away easily. She began to chase after the pair, recording them on her phone, as they bolted towards a dark green BMW. Ortiz — who works as a personal fitness trainer — caught up to the car before they could make their escape, where she used her bare hand to break the BMW's rear window. 'I saw the guy kind of reach over for something, so I backed up a little bit went around the car and hit the windshield, the window,' she told the outlet. The thieves sped off after Ortiz smashed in the back window — nearly hitting another driver as they fled with the stolen goods. 5 The buglers immediately took off after they noticed Ortiz was on to them. YouTube/ABC 7 When the mom-of-two went to see what was stolen from her home, she told ABC 7 that the apartment was ransacked entirely. The buglers made off with her jewelry, about $100 in cash, and her son's piggy bank. They were also able to pry open the lockbox in her bedroom containing her handgun, which they also stole. Ortiz said the whole ordeal has left her shaken. 5 The mom of two began to chase after the pair, recording them on her phone, as they bolted towards a dark green BMW. YouTube/ABC 7 'I feel very violated, very angry,' she said. During the chase, Ortiz's son was able to snap a photo of the BMW's license plate, which the family hoped would help bring the thieves to justice. However, after turning over the photo to the police, it was determined to be a stolen plate that did not match the car. While they still remain at large, Ortiz said she's 'grateful' that her family is safe and wasn't home when the thieves broke into their apartment. 5 Ortiz — who works as a personal fitness trainer — caught up to the car before they could make their escape, where she used her bare hand to break the BMW's rear window. YouTube/ABC 7 5 The thieves sped off after Ortiz smashed in the back window. YouTube/ABC 7 'It could have gone so bad,' she said. The Torrance Police Department said they are actively investigating the burglary. 'This type of crime is concerning, and we are committed to ensuring the safety of our community,' the department wrote in a statement. 'We encourage community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior or activity to the Torrance Police Department promptly.' A crime analysis report released by the Torrance Police Department in April shows that there have been 86 residential burglaries in the coastal city of Torrance in 2025.
Daily Mail
29-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Fearless mother gets satisfying revenge on burglars who she caught stealing little boy's piggy bank
A fearless California mother punched a hole in the back windshield of a burglar's car after a group of thieves stole her son's piggy bank. Kiara Ortiz was pulling up to her Torrance home when her son asked her who the men were who were coming out of the residence on July 26 around 2pm. 'When I looked over, I saw one of them with my kid's piggy bank,' she told ABC 7. The fearless mom didn't wait to jump into action as she took off after the burglars on foot, recording them as she went. They fled to a green BMW that had a getaway driver inside, police said. As the personal trainer neared their getaway vehicle, the mom punched a hole through the back passenger-side window with her bare hands. 'I saw the guy kind of reach over for something, so I backed up a little bit went around the car and hit the windshield, the window,' she told the outlet. The vehicle and the burglars managed to escape and Ortiz was left with a mess to deal with. The inside of her home was completely ransacked. Her jewelry, at least $100 in cash, and a firearm that had been pried out of a lockbox had been taken. 'I feel very violated, very angry,' she said. To make matters worse, despite her son being able to capture a photograph of the license plate, it turned out to be swapped plates that were not registered to the vehicle. Another blow is that the thieves got away with the piggy bank. But at the end of the day, Ortiz is just glad her family is okay. 'I am just grateful that my family is okay, it could have gone so bad,' she said. The Torrance Police Department said: 'This type of crime is concerning.' 'We encourage community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior or activity to the Torrance Police Department promptly,' it wrote in a statement.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man killed by hit-and-run driver, struck again by second vehicle in Torrance
The family of a man who was killed after being struck by two vehicles in Torrance is devastated as the suspect driver remains at large. On April 19, Carlos Gonzalez, 38, was attempting to cross Pacific Coast Highway near Ocean Avenue on foot at around 8:40 p.m. when he was hit by a vehicle. The impact knocked him over and into the middle of the busy road. The suspect sped away from the scene. Dashcam video then showed an oncoming pickup truck running over Carlos and dragging his body beneath the car before finally stopping. Leo Davis, a good Samaritan who spotted Carlos, immediately pulled over and rushed to help him. 'It was a horrible scene,' Davis said. 'I've never seen someone just lying in the street like that and left that way.' Davis attempted life-saving measures on Carlos as he awaited the arrival of paramedics. 'He was stuck under the vehicle by the time I got to him, so I cut him out from underneath the vehicle,' Davis said. 'I took his jacket off. I checked his airways, checked for chest movement. I just continued doing CPR until the police came.' But despite Davis' quick action, Carlos was pronounced dead at the scene. 'Leo was the one who was here to help my brother and just be with him before he passed,' Carla said. Although the initial driver fled, the driver of the second vehicle remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. Police do not yet have a description of the suspect's vehicle. As Carlos' friends and family mourn the loss of a beloved brother and son, they're hoping the driver who killed him is captured soon. Carlos' girlfriend, a woman identified only as Brittaney, said she remains in shock that anyone would flee the scene of a deadly crime. 'I understand accidents happen, but you can't just leave,' Brittaney said. 'You can't just hit somebody and leave. His mom — she needs justice for her son.' Loved ones have set up a memorial near the crash site to honor Carlos. A GoFundMe to help his family with funeral expenses can be found here. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Torrance Police Department at 310-618-5557 and reference case #250013850. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘Devastating' hit-and-run involving impaired driver leaves pedestrian dead in Torrance
More details have been released surrounding a fatal hit-and-run collision in Torrance that was described by officials as 'devastating.' The crash occurred around 8:40 p.m. Saturday evening at Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue and involved four vehicles and a pedestrian, the Torrance Police Department stated in a media release issued Sunday. 'The collision involved multiple vehicles, and a pedestrian fell off the curb in the Pacific Coast Highway lanes,' TPD stated in their media release. Deadly wrong-way crash shuts down freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Easter Sunday Emergency crews rushed to the area but the pedestrian succumbed to their injuries at the scene, police confirmed. They have yet to be identified by the L.A. County Medical Examiner's Office. Video taken in the aftermath of the crash by KTLA shows what appeared to be the pedestrian's possessions, including a suitcase and some articles of clothing, on the sidewalk in front of a McDonald's. Citizen App footage showed a large police presence blocking off the roadway as traffic was redirected. Traffic on PCH was 'severely impacted' in the wake of the crash as authorities began their probe into its cause. Their investigation revealed that one of the drivers involved was under the influence, and that motorist was arrested. Their identity was not disclosed. 'Erratic' man who bit police officer dies in custody after being arrested at Orange County park 'This arrest underscores the ongoing issues surrounding impaired driving and the dangers it poses to all road users,' Torrance police said. 'Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.' Anyone with more information on the crash is asked to contact the Torrance Police Department by calling 310-618-5557 and referencing TPD case #250013850. Further details surrounding the collision will be released at a later date, authorities said. KTLA photojournalist Nelson Castillo contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Torrance police officers plead guilty to painting swastika on car
Two former Torrance police officers pleaded guilty recently to felony vandalism charges for spray painting a victim's vehicle with a swastika in January 2020. Christopher Tomsic and Cody Weldin pled guilty Thursday after initially pleading not guilty to the charges in 2021. The victim's vehicle was tied to a reported mail theft and was taken to a tow yard. When the defendants in the mail theft case came to pick up their car, they discovered the swastika painted on the car's rear seat, as well as a happy face painted on the front seat. 'Vandalizing property with hateful messages is reprehensible and violates the oath police officers take to uphold the law and protect and serve their communities,' District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. L.A. County unveils $47.9 billion budget amid 'unprecedented financial challenges' Tomsic and Weldin, both 32, pleaded guilty to one count each of felon vandalism and were sentenced to two years of formal probation, restitution to the victim, the surrender of their Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification, 100 hours of community service, a tour of the Museum of Tolerance and 15 hours of Anti-Racism coursework, the D.A.'s office stated. In addition, officials ensured Tomsic and Weldin 'will never again work as police officers in our state,' Hochman said. The Torrance Police Department was commended by the D.A.'s Office for its swift action against the officers. 'The actions of these former officers were disgraceful and violated the core values of our department,' Torrance Police Chief Jeremiah Hart said. A progress report is scheduled for July 10 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
