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Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Man Gets a Whiff of Unfamiliar Cologne

Also, something unusual pops up near a school, and there's a strange sight in the road—and it's not just the politically marked van.

Sometimes, you know when something smells fishy. That was the case in Dove Canyon earlier this week when a resident was at home when he sensed something wasn't quite right.

Actually, it was more scents than sense.

It was someone else's cologne.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the man was apparently home with his daughter when he detected the strong smell of another man's cologne in the house, which prompted him to call OCSD and ask for a deputy to investigate, even though nothing else appeared suspicious.

The call came in Monday, about 4 p.m., from Glen Iris.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Room with a view

A woman, calling from the office of Mission Hills Christian School, said someone had set up camp near the Rancho Santa Margarita campus. She could see the campsite under a clump of trees.

The call came in around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, from the 29500 block of Aventura.

Not the vegetable aisle

An informant contacted OCSD after spotting an elderly man in the middle of the road, staring at the ground while holding onto a shopping cart.

The call was made Wednesday, 10:31, from the 22200 block of Antonio Parkway.

The bike lane, not the campaign trail

An informant called police on Tuesday—election day—to report a van covered in political signs parked in the bike lane and a posted no parking area near Las Flores and Santa Margarita Parkway.

The call was made about 3:15 p.m.

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 November 5 to November 7.

Disturbance 2:02 a.m. Wednesday, 200 block of Via Serena. A man said his intoxicated girlfriend had hit him during an argument.

Traffic Hazard 9:26 p.m. Tuesday, on Santa Margarita Parkway and El Paseo. A man said several eggs hit his vehicle.

Disturbance 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, 100 block of Via Contento. An informant said he was fighting with his brother.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 4:35 a.m. Tuesday, on Via Arribo. An informant claimed three men were roaming around his complex.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 7:17 p.m. Monday, 22400 block of Antonio Parkway. An informant said a man and a woman came out of a restroom abruptly, and appeared to be intoxicated.

Petty Theft Report 3:15 p.m. Monday, on El Camino Montana and Avenida de las Flores. A man said someone had stolen his daughter’s bag while she was running.

Vandalism Report 10:55 a.m. Monday, 22400 block of Alma Aldea. A man said someone had spray-painted his garage.

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.

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