Friday, May 16: Smoke can be seen to the southwest of Claremont from a fire that began on Friday. The fire is located near the I-10 and 57/71 freeways, and is not a threat to Claremont.

The "Bighorn" wildland fire started at about 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, north of the Mt. Baldy Village area. The fire is about 6 miles north of Claremont and is moving in north-west and north-east directions.   The rugged terrain is making it difficult for ground crews, and helicopter and fixed wing aircraft provide support.  Mt. Baldy Rd. from Shinn Rd. north is closed to visitors, open only to residents.

Update: Friday 7:55 p.m.
Acres burned: 461
Containment: 72%
Fire & support personnel: 388
Full containment is expected by Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
Continued movement of the fire is projected to be minimal. No structures are threatened and the Fire Department does not foresee any danger to Claremont.

Fire Information Center (U.S. Forest Service)
Weekdays: (626) 821-6700, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Weekend: (909) 394-7903, 6:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
"Bighorn" Fire Updates on the U.S. Forest Service Website

The following related robberies occurred on Monday, May 12, 2008.

At about 3:40 pm, two female teens were walking south on Mountain Ave. north of Bonita Ave. when they were confronted by the passenger of a white four-door pickup truck. The suspect demanded an Ipod carried by one of the teens as he held a handgun at his side. The teen handed over her Ipod and the suspect left in the truck north on Mountain Ave.

At about 3:50 pm, a male teen was walking south on Mountain Ave. near Santa Clara Ave. when two suspects approached him on foot and demanded his electronic game. The suspects pushed the victim around and the victim felt one of the suspects press against his side an object that felt like a handgun. The victim surrendered his game and the suspects fled in the suspect vehicle west on Santa Clara Ave.

Suspect #1: Male Hispanic, 16-19 years old, 5'-6" to 5'-9", 150 to 180 lbs, shaved head, white t-shirt turned inside-out, baggy shorts or blue jeans.

Suspect #2: Male Hispanic, 16-19 years old, 180 lbs., shaved head, black t-shirt with "g-unit" logo, blue jeans.

Suspect Vehicle: Newer white 4-door Chevy Silvarado, tinted windows, chrome low profile rims/tires.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.

The Claremont Police Department will be aggressively enforcing the state's occupant protection laws as part of California's 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization, taking place May 12-June 1. The campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as a means to help California achieve the highest seat belt use rate in the nation. California currently has the nation's fourth highest seat belt use rate at 94.6 percent.

More than 280 law enforcement agencies statewide will be participating in this year's Click It or Ticket mobilization. Additionally, agencies are encouraged to conduct nighttime patrols in an effort to boost compliance at night.  Funding for officer overtime to support California's Click It or Ticket campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

• Seat Belt Enforcement Press Release (Adobe Acrobat, 31KB)

On Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at about 12:55 p.m., two burglary suspects entered a residence in the 600 block of south Sycamore Ave. (just west of Mills Ave. and north of I-10) through an unlocked rear window. They began to load items into their vehicle that was backed into the driveway when the resident arrived home. The suspects fled in the vehicle south on Sycamore Ave. and then west on San Jose Ave.

Suspect Vehicle: Teal Mini Van, possibly a KIA or Ford with sloping front hood, late 90's or early 00's.

Suspect #1: Male Black in his 20's, thin build, wearing dark clothing.

Suspect #2:: Male Hispanic in his 30's, heavy build, clean shaven, wearing dark clothing, driver of vehicle.

The City Council approved a new solicitor ordinance at their meeting on April 22. The ordinance includes an enhanced permit process for those who wish to solicit in the City of Claremont. A provision of the ordinance includes a "Do Not Knock" registry. Residents will be able to request their addresses be included on the registry and solicitation of funds will be prohibited at all listed addresses.

To fulfill legal requirements, there will be a second reading of the ordinance by the City Council at their meeting on May 13, and then the ordinance will become effective 30 days later on June 12. City staff is currently putting the necessary procedures into place to establish the "Do Not Knock" registry and the solicitation permit application process.

We will be not be accepting requests for inclusion on the "Do Not Knock" registry until the procedures are established. Please check back to this website for updates and notification when registry requests will be accepted. We will also make notifications via the Neighborhood E-Watch email notification system (you can sign up by clicking on the E-Watch icon in the left column) and other City publications.

Click here for more details

During the investigation of several residential burglaries occurring in north Claremont over the past two months, Claremont Police detectives identified a possible suspect as James Miller, a 29-year-old Rancho Cucamonga resident. Miller was also suspected of committing residential burglaries in other local communities, including Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Mira Loma, and Chino.

Claremont PD obtained the assistance from a regional task force (LA IMPACT) to conduct a surveillance of Miller. On April 22, 2008 at approximately 12:15 P.M., Miller and an accomplice, Michael Maximaino Matos (a 26-year-old Chino resident), committed a residential burglary in Corona while under surveillance. Miller and Matos were immediately arrested by Claremont PD and both suspects were taken into custody by Corona PD.

After the apprehension of Miller and Matos, Detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in Rancho Cucamonga, who were also conducting investigations involving Miller, served a search warrant on a house in the 3000 block of St. Andrews St. in Ontario, where jewelry and additional property believed to be stolen was recovered.

Local agencies will be contacting victims of residential burglaries believed to involve Miller to arrange a viewing of the recovered stolen property. Miller is believed to be involved in approximately five residential burglaries in Claremont.

• Serial Burglar Arrest Press Release (Adobe Acrobat, 30KB)

On Tuesday April 8, 2008, at about 3 pm, a vehicle was burglarized while parked in the Thompson Creek Trail parking lot at the north end of Indian Hill Blvd. (2471 N. Indian Hill Blvd.).  The suspects were described as two male Hispanics approximately 16 years old, and were seen leaving the area southbound on Indian Hill Blvd. in a red 1990's Ford Mustang.  We are seeking information leading to the identification of the suspects.

Anyone with information about the possible identity of these suspects is asked to call Detective Jason Walters at (909) 399-5425 (reference case # 08-1198)

• Email Detective Walters

On Monday April 7, 2008 between 1:30 & 2 pm, a 14-year-old male was riding his bike on the pedestrian bridge off of Turningbend Dr. west of  Shelter Grove Dr. (north of Foothill Blvd. between Garey Ave. & Towne Ave.). Another juvenile (suspect) confronted the victim and demanded the victim's bicycle. When the victim refused to give up his bike the suspect struck the victim.  The victim fought back possibly breaking or injuring the suspect's arm.  The suspect started to cry and fled the location without the victim's bicycle.

The suspect was described as a white male, approximately 14 years old, 5'3", 180 pounds (described as "heavy"), with brown hair and green eyes.  Prior to confronting the victim, the suspect was seen walking in the area with two "kids" around the age of 7.

Anyone with information about the possible identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective Joe Maddox at (909) 399-5423 (reference case # 08-1191).

• Email Detective Maddox

On Saturday, March 15 at around 11:00 am, a female College student was walking on the west side of Collins Dining Hall (near Amherst Ave. and Eighth St.) when a male subject approached her and asked her if she could direct him to Foothill Boulevard. She told him that she did not know how to get to Foothill Boulevard and walked away. With the student's back turned, the subject proceeded to put his arms around her from behind. The student yelled and the subject ran away. The student fled the scene physically unharmed. The subject is described as a male in his late 20's, possibly East Indian with black hair. He was wearing glasses and casual clothing.

Another female student reported an incident involving a subject with the same description within an hour prior to the above described incident. The student was jogging north along Claremont Blvd (coming north from First Street). A subject popped his head over from a stone wall and asked how to get to Foothill. The student provided directions, after which the subject shrugged and said "I tried" or something similar. The subject did not move from behind the wall as the student jogged away.

Be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious persons immediately. For college students and staff, if you are on campus, report suspicious persons immediately to Campus Safety; when off campus, contact the Claremont Police Department.