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2400 block of Ostrom Ave. At 3:10 p.m., a porch pirate garbed in a white hoodie escaped with a package in a white truck, which matched all the other white trucks in the vicinity, most of them as innocent as their color

300 block the Promenade. At 2:15 p.m., an apparently homeless male with a penchant for free basketball gear, donned a pair of Chicago Bulls pants and attempted to leave the store with that and more Bulls-style merchandise in hand.

2200 block of East Seventh Street. At 10:05 p.m., a firefighter suffered minor burns battling a two-alarm fire that damaged an apartment building and left 12 people displaced.

Bellflower and Atherton. At 3:20 p.m., a woman fell out of her van at a gas station, causing the van to roll into the generally busy intersection.

710 Freeway. The freeway was shut down at the Ninth Street exit as car club vehicles raced each other at 9:30 p.m. Word got out this racing crew was thus heading to Lakewood Blvd. and Artesia Street to continue on with their Sunday night speed show in another’s jurisdiction.

405 Freeway near the 710. At 10:30 p.m., a vehicle in the southbound lane crashed into the northbound lane on its side with several other vehicles also crashed. Emergency crews responded to the northbound lanes, leaving only the far right lane open to traffic.

200 block of Cherry Ave. A male in a tank top and skateboard attempted a strong arm theft at a liquor store at 5:30 p.m. Failing in that endeavor, he took his skateboard to the nearby park where he might have intended an alternate ruckus.

Anaheim Transit Station. At 7 a.m. came reports of a male with no pants on, boarding a municipal bus en route to the downtown transit mall, where they virtually insist on all riders covering their bottom torso. Local authorities were assigned to reinforce that expectation. As of 7:50 a.m., he was clothed and walking away.

600 block of Cedar. At 2 p.m., a woman was pushing two baby strollers full of Amazon packages, either a generous giver or a more greedy Amazon taker.

Shoreline Village. Incoming at 5:40 p.m., at least that’s what many thought as a rocket with a brilliant trail streaked across the sky. Turned out it wasn’t from North Korea, but a Space-X satellite launch from Vandenberg AFB on our own shores. Many called the authorities as the authorities watched the same sight. UFOers will be busy for years.

Long Beach Harbor. A noontime overturned scrap metal 18-wheeler carrying rebar spilled and spelled serious delays for those on the Gerald Desmond Bridge and other roads leading to the harbor as it occupied all three lanes.

The Peninsula. More than 3,600 customers were left in the dark at 11:39 p.m., when an Edison line fell near Bayshore Avenue and Ocean Blvd. On Wednesday, at 10 a.m., many got power back, all were restored by 1 p.m.

Pacific Ave. near 28th St. At 2:50 p.m., a women driver crashed into several parked cars. A minor with traumatic injuries was taken to the hospital.

Seventh St. and Termino Ave. At 8:20 p.m., a vehicle struck a fire hydrant, creating a flooding device. The driver journeyed to Federation Drive, seeking dimly-lit seclusion.

2100 block of Bellflower Blvd. at 8:30 p.m., a grey hooded male attempted an auto burglary via a sprung door, then walked away, Slim Jim in hand. Police detained Slim at the nearby CVS.

200 block of Obispo Ave. At 5 p.m., a group of unknown men waited for someone holding their jewels, allegedly having disabled his car, but who may have already “bounced” anyway. A black and white drove up, the unknown men scattered. The cop mentioned a “refused call,” meaning the caller refused to give a name. No complainant, no waiting men, no reason to go to the door behind which the possible jewelry holding man was hiding, no service. Cop left, saying “call if the men return.” About the hot ice? Case closed.

300 E. San Antonio Dr. At 2:35 p.m., after a holiday party at the offices of high profile accident attorney, Larry H. Parker, a firm owned by Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison, recently dismissed partner John Alexander Mendoza, 58, of Redondo Beach returned, told workers in the office to leave, he then shot Major A. Langer, 75, of Rolling Hills in the torso, killing him and wounding partner, Ronald Beck, 64, in the leg and grazing his stomach. Mendoza then killed himself. Beck went by private vehicle to the hospital, others affected were transported by ambulance. At 3:15 p.m., SWAT officers cleared the building room by room. San Antonio Dr., Long Beach Blvd. and Carson Street near the scene were closed to traffic. Police ordered a bus for all the witnesses, of which there were plenty.

steve@beachcomber.news