SUNDAY, NOV. 25, AT 11:35 P.M. Officers responded to the intersection of Broadway and Third Street regarding a grand theft investigation. When officers arrived, they spoke with the alleged victim, an employee charged with moving and securing kiosks used by merchants on the promenade. The employee said he was towing the kiosks with an electric cart when three men ran up alongside him, jumped in the cart and drove away. The employee notified police, who saw the cart a few minutes later being driven into the 1550 Lot just north of the Santa Monica Pier. Officers questioned the driver of the cart, who said that he had just bought it from a man for $12. The value of the missing carts was estimated at $78,000. The driver of the cart was placed under arrest for receiving stolen property. He was identified as Eric Daniel Rodriguez, 20, a transient. His bail was set at $25,000. At the time the police report was written, the kiosks had not been recovered.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 7, 2007. Read the original PDF.