Police Blotter: Who's Lurking in the City's Storm Drains?

Are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles living underneath Rancho Santa Margarita?

Maybe not, but something odd may be going on in the city's underbelly.

An informant became concerned early Saturday night as she drove along Plano Trabuco Road. She called the Orange County Sheriff Department after witnessing a group of four men climbed out of the storm drains on Plano Trabuco.

The men, who definitely were not ninja turtles, were clad in jeans and t-shirts. According to the woman, they lifted the drains’ manhole covers and walked into the Rancho Senna community after lifting themselves out from the ground.

The call came in around 6 p.m. on Saturday, from Plano Trabuco Road and Dove Canyon Drive.

Man runs out of church, carrying a shiny object

A woman was driving on Avenida de las Banderas Saturday night when she saw a man with a shaved head run out of a Rancho Santa Margarita church holding some sort of a shiny object.

The woman quickly drove away once she realized that the suspect was trying to force her to stop, and it looked like he wanted to throw the object at her.

The call came in around 9 p.m. on Saturday, from Arroyo Vista and Avenida de las Banderas.

Teens cautioned after making rope bridge

An informant saw a group of teens tying ropes together and hanging them over the Tijeras Creek bridge early Tuesday evening. Deputies arrived and detained five youths, who were trying to make a rope swing under the bridge. They were advised that it was a bad idea, and the kids agreed to leave the area.

The call came in around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, from Antonio Parkway and Tijeras Creek.

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The following is a summary report of calls from Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Trabuco Canyon and Las Flores to the Orange County Sheriff's Department from September 15 to September 18.

Vandalism in Progress 10:37 p.m. Tuesday, on Buena Suerte and Avenida de las Flores. An informant said a driver in a white Ford F-150 was doing "doughnuts" at a nearby park, tearing up the grass in the process.

Petty Theft 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, on Melinda Road and Ametrine Way. A teenager was detained after being caught shoplifting at Target.

Vandalism Report 10:52 a.m. Tuesday, on Melinda Road and Ametrine Way. A caller said someone had broken the ground lights in her entrance planter.

Vandalism Report 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, on Via Cresta. A woman said someone had just paintballed her residence.

Disturbance 6:59 p.m. Sunday, on Via Cuidado. A woman said her neighbor was trying to start a fight with her.

Investigate a Person Down 10:41 p.m. Saturday, on Alma Aldea and Via Honesto. A man saw another man passed out behind a bush.

Pedestrian Check 8:50 p.m. Saturday, on Montana del Lago Drive. Deputies arrested a 33-year-old man, who was released after posting bond from the Intake Release Center.

Citizen Assist 4:46 p.m. Saturday, on Via Vison. A woman reported a man was taking photos of her daughters on his cell phone, and she thought she had seen his picture on a predator website.

Assist Outside Agency 3:32 p.m. Saturday, on Avenida de las Flores and Buena Suerte. A caller said a man was running around yelling and screaming through Monte Vista park, claiming people were following him.

Citizen Assist 12:06 p.m. Saturday, 32800 block of Brookseed Drive. A man said people were throwing eggs and oranges at houses on his street.

Disturbance 3:40 a.m. Saturday, 22400 block of Alma Aldea. A man said his intoxicated ex-girlfriend was refusing to leave his residence.

You can read about more incidents on the Orange County Sheriff's Department blotter.

These reports are culled from the Orange County Sheriff's website. Not all facts in each report are made public; the outcome of the report may differ from the original blotter item. There should be no assumption of guilt based on this limited information.