Colombian Cell Phone and Purse Snatchers Targeting Hollywood, Nabbed by Victim; LAPD and South Gate Police Said Not to Bother Them.

Colombian Cell Phone and Purse Snatchers.

On February 29, 2024 - Elder Arambula, 22, professional Spaniard-Mexican boxer, entrepreneur, boxing and fitness coach, and temporary worker for the Los Angeles County Election, was standing outside Hollywood's Avalon Theater, to support his friend and boxer, Ryan Garcia at Garcia's press conference against Devin Heney. Before the conference, Arambula saw two suspicious Hispanic guys walking back and forth, spying on onlookers. Arambula witnessed a chubby darker skinned guy ("Chubby") hand Avalon's security guard a $100 bill.When Arambula began talking to Garcia and Garcia's brother, Chubby bumped into Arambula with his arm and shoulder. The next thing Arambula knew, his cell phone was missing.

Arambula was with his friend, Marilyn Anguiano. The thinner, fairer skinned guy ("Skinny") attempted to pull Anguiano's purse. When he failed to take it, Skinny just said, "Sorry."

On March 2, 2024 - Arambula was able to get a location of his cell phone. Arambula asked me, if I would help him. I said, "Yes, but let me change the water on my South American Amazonian aquarium." (My wild Peruvian discus fish needed clean water.)

The location pinpointed to 2651 Pine Place in South Gate, a three-story apartment. After spending an hour, I was able to locate the phone in one of three units: 102, 202, or 302. The apartment states to be registered to Julio Carrillo. A public record's search says he is 72 years old, goes by the names of Julio Hernandez and Hernan Carrillo and is also registered at 4324 Florence Ave Apt 219, Bell, CA 90201. A relative of his, Miguel Hernandez, also resides at the same address, unit 309.

Arambula knocked on 102. A middle aged Hispanic mother came out. Spoke Spanish. Denied having the phone. I studied her body language. I believed her.

Then, Arambula knocked on 202. Chubby came out. Bingo. We walked inside. We asked for the cell phone. Chubby didn't say anything.

Then all of a sudden Skinny, who was sleeping, threw off his bed sheets. I was startled. Skinny jumped out of bed and popped out of nowhere.

Elder shouted, "Paul, that's him! He was at the press conference! He tried to steal Marilyn's purse!" Anguiano confirmed that the Skinny in the picture was the one who tried to steal her purse.

I looked around the room and saw around 7 stolen cell phones and a few stolen purses. One was a black Dolce Gabbana purse. 

I asked politely for Skinny to give back the phone. Skinny was clearly high on drugs. His speech was slurred. He spoke with a Venezuelan accent.

Chubby asked us to show the location. Elder showed him on his phone. Chubby refused to give back the phone.

I told them we'd have to call the police, if they didn't return the phone. Skinny started screaming and pushing Arambula out of the apartment. Skinny then punched Arambula. Arambula decided not to punch back. Skinny then grabbed me and pushed me out too.

We called the South Gate Police. Two officers came. Both named Gonzalez. One was J. Gonzales. He was a young officer, who asked me to explain the situation. 

After doing so, J. Gonzalez said, "Well, you really shouldn't be here looking for the cell phone. And since you didn't file a police report, there's nothing we could do."

He started interviewing Arambula, and I said, "I want to be present. I'm Arambula's attorney."

J. Gonzalez said, "It doesn't matter. You can't be present while I interview Arambula. You better back away." This would be illegal under the decision Miranda v. Arizona (1965) 384 U.S. 436.

Then J. Gonzales said, "Your cell phone is not here."

Arambula, upset, points to the his other phone and says, "Do you not see, it says the location is here? And I saw the suspects at the place where my cell phone was stolen."

J. Gonzales said, "Since you didn't file a police report, we're not going to do anything."

I said, "You're seriously not going to do anything, when there's a number of stolen cell phones and purses in that unit?"

Gonzalez's partner said they'd interview the suspects. They came down and the partner explained that they denied having the cell phone but did invite them to look for it.

I said, "So, why didn't you search the place?"

J. Gonzales, at the same time, lied to Arambula saying, "We searched the place and found nothing.'

After I heard this, I said, "Your partner just told me you didn't search the place. Go search it."

J. Gonzales said, "We don't have a warrant."

Annoyed and frustrated, I said, "You don't need a warrant. They consented to a search."

The partner and him then agreed to search the place. They came back down. They said they found nothing. They gave us a police report number to make Arambula feel better. 

The partner and J. Gonzales said, "Well, we really don't want to do a thorough search, because our lives could be in danger." 

I shook my head, rolled my eyes, took a deep breath, and thanked them.

A small crowd of residents gathered in the lobby of the apartment. An El Salvadorean woman name Maria said, "I know who they are. They're illegal Colombians. They're thieves. They arrested one not too long ago. We need them gone." Organized crime rings have been stealing cell phones, wallets and purses in West Hollywood. Colombian theft rings are responsible for hundreds of stolen cell phones.

On March 11, 2024 - I emailed Avalon Theater, South Gate Police Chief and the Hollywood Division Captain. Captain Craig Heredia stated that nothing could be done, because a police report wasn't filed. I quickly responded and forwarded him the police report: Report # 240302900356. No response given. Nothing was done.

Chief Arakawa of South Gate replied, "It will be looked into." To date, nothing's been done.

Barney Holm, the General Manager of Avalon wrote, "Unfortunately there is not much that we can do in terms of an investigation or prosecution as a Venue."

The cell phone theft comes at a difficult time for Arambula. Arambula, 22, recently left home, because of his broken family, who struggles with gang activity and addictions. Hence, Arambula was working two jobs, one was as a temporary worker for the LA County Election and as a private boxing and fitness coach. His new business is New Life Boxing and Fitness. 

Because of the cell phone loss, Arambula lost two days of work as an election worker, which is about $600, about a month's rent for him. Arambula, however, made up for it by working 16 hours for the LA County Election from 5:15 AM to 9 PM.

After Arambula posted a picture of the thieves on his Instagram, followers have demanded justice. Comments state "Call ICE"; "Scum bags My daughter has had their purse stolen recent[ly] at Hollywood clubs"; and that Arambula should go back and attack the thieves. Instagram screenshots have been published below.

When asked what Arambula wanted, he stated, "I want these thieves to be investigated, arrested, and prosecuted. I want to get these thieves off the streets. People like this are destroying our society, making it worse, and need to be sent back to where they're from."

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The email address of Captain Heredia, the General Manager of the Avalon Theater, the owner of the Avalon Theater, and Chief Arakawa at South Gate are as follows, respectively: 31900@lapd.online, barney@avalonhollywood.com, john@avalonhollywood.com, darakawa@sogate.org.

Arambula's instagram is @elderboxing107.