The San Marino Police Department arrested a contractor for grand larceny this week, and police urged residents to lock their valuables in a safe when having workers in their homes.
SMPD also encourages residents to only hire reputable contractors with a California contractor license and San Marino business license, and to attain the proper permits to conduct contractor work in their homes.
Authorities issued the warning after officers arrested a contractor for stealing a large amount of cash from a home in the 1300 block of Winston Avenue on Dec. 13 at about 2:57 p.m.
Police found the contractor on site evaluating the home’s furnace system. The victim had reported a large sum of cash was missing from the home.
Officers arrived on scene and contacted the contractor, who was identified as Jun Yao. Officers were able to locate a large amount of cash on Yao’s person and in one of his tool bags. Yao had a work truck parked in the victim’s driveway. A search of the vehicle was conducted by officers and assisted by a Pasadena Police Department K-9 unit. No further cash was located outside of the home or in the vehicle. After questioning Yao, he admitted to taking money from the residence.
Yao was arrested for grand theft and was transported to the Pasadena City Jail for booking. He was later released with an own recognizance citation by a magistrate under the new Los Angeles County Superior Courts Pre-Arraignment Release Protocols (PARP). The new PARP bail schedule guides Los Angeles County police agencies to provide magistrate review for specific crimes.
Officers determined Yao was an unlicensed contractor conducting work without a city business license and without city permits. He had been left unattended while working inside the home.
In a statement, the SMPD said it encourages residents to hire only “reputable” contractors with a California contractor license and San Marino business license and receive the proper permits to conduct contractor work in their homes.
“Residents are also urged to make sure jewelry, cash or important documents are locked inside a safe,” SMPD said. “Make sure the safe is adequately bolted down to the home in order for the safe to not be easily removed. There are other less secure methods to hide valuables such as false wall outlets, false containers or hallowed books. It is important to maintain the security of contractors while they walk around residences.”
First published in the Dec. 21 issue of the San Marino Tribune
