3:25pm | Long Beach Police investigators are seeking the public’s help in locating anyone who may recognize stolen property seized from the residence of two auto burglary suspects.

On Tuesday, November 1, shortly after 3:00 a.m., Long Beach Police officers were called to the 5300-block of East Canton Street regarding an auto burglary that had just occurred. Within minutes, the first officer arrived and learned that the suspects who committed the auto burglary fled from the scene in a vehicle.

The description of the suspects and their vehicle was relayed to surrounding police units as well as CHP officers. Several minutes later, Long Beach Police officers and CHP officers located the suspects traveling northbound on the 405 freeway. After the vehicle was stopped, the occupants were identified as the two who had committed the auto burglary.

The two arrested were 32-year-old Vincent Benjamin Hamlin and 23-year-old Daisy Serrano, both residents of Long Beach. Officers learned that Hamlin is on parole for burglary and Serrano is on probation for receiving stolen property. Officers searched the suspect’s vehicle and found many stolen items, including cell phones, flashlights, iPods, electronic equipment, jewelry, SIM and SD cards and GPS systems. All of these items were seized by the officers in hopes of later finding the owners of this property.

The following day, detectives assigned to the East Division became involved in the investigation. Information obtained during their investigation led them to believe that these suspects were possibly responsible for additional auto burglaries. Armed with a search warrant, detectives entered the home of the couple, on the west side of Long Beach, in search of additional stolen property.

As a result of the search warrant, detectives found many other stolen items, including property stolen in 2009. Items recovered include a stolen motorcycle, several GPS systems, laptop computers, iPods, cell phones, cameras, jewelry and an extensive amount of gift cards, credit cards, identifications and bank statements belonging to well over 20 victims.

Investigators are continuing to search for the owners of the property recovered and to build their case against Hamlin and Serrano. Upon completion of the investigation, detectives will present the case to the District Attorney’s Office for filing of charges. Anyone who has been the victim of an auto burglary in recent is encouraged to visit the Long Beach Police Department’s Facebook page and view the album Auto Burglary Property to see if any of the stolen items belong to you or someone you know.

The Long Beach Police Department would also like to remind the community to take a few simple crime prevention and safety steps:

  • Remember to keep windows closed and doors locked. Four percent of auto thefts occur due to unlocked doors or windows left down.
  • Keep valuable items out of plain sight. It is preferable that nothing of value is kept in the car at all, however, if something must remain inside, ensure it is covered or locked in an interior compartment (glove box, center console) if possible. 
  • Report suspicious activity to the police. If you see anyone looking into cars or residences call police immediately and let them determine if criminal activity is taking place. Often times people who are caught breaking into cars and homes have a history of auto and/or residential burglary.

Anyone with any information regarding these crimes is encouraged to contact Long Beach Police Department’s East Division Detectives Marcus Briones at (562) 570-5888 or Johnny Dodson at (562) 570-5813.