Nabisco Loft Prowlers Identified NR10193pv

April 13, 2010

Los Angeles:  Detectives have identified the man, woman, and their copper colored Avalanche, seen March 31, 2010 at the downtown Nabisco Lofts.  Their images were released to the public April 1 in an effort to warn residents to lock doors and in the hope of identifying either suspect.

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies arrested Tommie Scott, 50, while following a lead that Scott possessed stolen Chinese coins.  They stopped him near Central Avenue and Gage Street on April 2.  The deputies found the rare coins in his pocket, along with a cell phone.

Deputies Sean Shaw and Mark King realized the phone was probably stolen and called numbers until they found its owner, a downtown restaurant owner whose phone had been taken from a back office,
March 31.  The deputies urged the restaurateur to make a crime report with LAPD.

LAPD Det. Kyle Remolino called Deputy Shaw to learn more about Scott and the stolen phone.  The deputies were at Scott’s South Los Angeles home, searching for more stolen items.  Scott’s description sounded familiar to Det. Remolino so he asked about a copper Avalanche.  The deputies said they were staring at the SUV as Remolino described it over the phone.

“We got more than we ever expected on this case, thanks to the work of Deputies Shaw and King,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, who heads up the detective division for downtown.  “We will clear the attempted burglary at the lofts and the theft from the restaurant, and maybe a few more.”

LAPD detectives will interview the 35-year-old woman seen in the video with Scott, but they don’t expect to charge her with any crime right now.  

Scott is a prolific burglar who was on parole for burglary when the deputies arrested him for receiving stolen property.  As he was on parole, no bail was set.

“Scott was more of an office creeper than a cat burglar,” Lt. Vernon added.  “He’d walk into open businesses and steal whatever he could get his hands on.  If fact, he mistook the Nabisco Lofts for business suites.  So my initial warning to the public holds true:  lock your doors at home and lock up your stuff at work.”

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Mike Mazzacano, Central Burglary Unit, at 213-972-1231.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.