Police Blotter: Is It Really A Prank When You're Providing A Free Snack?

Some people have better senses of humor than others, and apparently some pranksters in Coto de Caza haven't exactly figured it out yet.

A man carrying a flashlight was chased off a property by the owner early Thursday morning. 

When the owner, who made the call to police, finally confronted the flashlight-toting stranger, he confessed that he and his friends were playing a prank on the neighborhood. The prank entailed putting freshly-cooked burritos on people’s doorsteps. 

The burrito-delivery man left with his friends in an older model sedan.

Free snacks? Sounds like the joke's on him.

The call came in around 2 a.m. on Thursday, from the 31800 block of Via Coyote.

Woman says neighbor killed her cat, has audacity to ask her to remove its remains

A distraught Rancho Santa Margarita woman called the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Thursday morning to report that her neighbor had killed her cat. According to the woman, her neighbor had been banging on her door all morning and ringing her doorbell, telling her to remove the dead feline from his lawn. 

The neighbor stated that the cat was killed by an animal, but the woman was sure he had killed her beloved pet because he didn’t like her or the animal. 

The call came in around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, from San Ignacio.

Man wakes up to burning trash

A man woke up early Wednesday morning to a fire burning in a trash can in front of his Rancho Santa Margarita residence. The man suspected that someone had started the fire. Before deputies arrived, the man put out the fire with a garden hose.

The call came in around 2:15 a.m. on Wednesday, from Calle Alamitos.

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 June 28 to June 30.

Disturbance—Music or Party 10:21 p.m. Thursday, on La Cincha. A caller said he heard a loud band playing near his residence.

Welfare Check 8:26 p.m. Thursday, on Antonio Parkway and Santa Margarita Parkway. A woman said a man in an electric wheelchair was begging for money in the Ralphs parking lot. She was concerned that he would get hit by a car.

Warrant Arrest 7:55 p.m. Thursday, on Via Amistosa. Deputies arrested a 30-year-old man.

Citizen Assist 5:34 p.m. Thursday, 22100 block of El Paseo. A man said he was followed by someone in a car that was throwing gang signs at him before threatening to kill him.

Welfare Check 8:07 a.m. Thursday, on Lake View Drive. A woman said her neighbor spent the night at her house due to domestic violence. In the morning, the woman went back to her house to pick up some medicine, but hadn’t returned or called. According to the caller, the woman’s husband was intoxicated the night before. Deputies arrived and arrested a 66-year-old man, who was released after posting bond from the Intake Release Center. 

Disturbance—Music or Party 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, on Melinda Road and Paseo Primero. A caller said she heard loud mariachi music and karaoke singers coming from somewhere in her neighborhood.

Disturbance—Music or Party 10:08 p.m. Wednesday, on Palma Valley. A woman said there was a loud party near her house, and youths were racing their cars up and down the street. According to the caller, a fight had broken out between several of the teens, and a group of them were throwing bottles in front of her home.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 7:42 p.m. Wednesday, on Santa Margarita Parkway and Avenida de los Fundadores. A caller wanted deputies to search for an intoxicated woman who fell off a bench on Santa Margarita Parkway.

Shots Heard 7:21 p.m. Wednesday, on Antonio Parkway and El Prado. An informant reported hearing a .22 rifle being fired in the ravine near Tijeras Creek Trail.

Citizen Assist 5:01 p.m. Wednesday, on Via Pausa. A man said a neighbor was stalking his wife.

Stolen Vehicle 12:28 p.m. Wednesday, 30500 block of Avenida de las Flores. A woman reported her silver Volkswagen Jetta as stolen.

Lost Property 7:58 a.m. Wednesday, 22100 block of El Paseo. A man said that his gun was missing.

Suspicious Person in Vehicle 11:18 p.m. Tuesday, on Calle Alamitos. A caller said a group of youths were driving around his complex in an SUV, jumping out every once in a while to run around.

Disturbance 10:11 p.m. Tuesday, on Vista del Verde and Easthill. A caller said kids were throwing eggs on the street.

Terrorist Threats Report 9:06 p.m. Tuesday, on Arado. A man said he had been receiving ongoing threats from someone who said he was going to come to his house.

Disturbance 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, 21000 block of Rancho Trabuco. A caller saw three youths running on top of the portable classrooms at Melinda Heights Elementary school.

Family Dispute 6:06 p.m. Tuesday, 20700 block of Trabuco Oaks Drive. A man said his 28-year-old daughter was on his front lawn, causing a scene and refusing to leave.

Suspicious Person in Vehicle 1:42 p.m. Tuesday, on Alumbre. A woman said a man was leering at her while sitting in his tan pickup truck.

Burglary in Progress 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, on Via Amistosa. A caller said a woman was breaking into a vending machine.

Disturbance-Music or Party 12:37 a.m. Tuesday, on Marchin Lane. A caller said there was a loud party, with revelers breaking glass and yelling obscenities, near his residence.

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