Radio Shock Jock, Ex-TV Cop Help Catch Alleged Hollywood Hills Mail Thief
HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — A popular radio shock jock partnered with an ex-TV cop to catch an alleged Hollywood Hills thief.
Radio and online show host, Tom Leykis, said he took matters into his own hands when he witnessed someone trying to steal mail from one of his neighbors a few weeks ago.
"What was shocking about this was how blatant it was. It happened at 1:30 in the afternoon in broad daylight," he said. "The person was brazen, he had an accomplice, and he was wearing an oven mitt."
Leykis said he immediately pulled out his smartphone and took pictures of the crime just eight feet from his house.
"Literally, in one of the photos, you can see him with the oven mitt practically up to his elbow and his arm all the way in the mailbox," he said.
Leykis then took to social media in hopes someone could identify the man with the mitt.
"These people were clearly up to no good. It was clear, to me, they were casing the joint next door," he said. "The guy was blatantly walking back and forth. He had a satchel."
The radio host called police and alerted his Neighborhood Watch Group, which happens to be headed by actor Kent McCord AKA Officer Jim Reed from the popular 1968-1975 police drama, "Adam-12."
"So when there's crime…who do I contact? I contact Kent McCord. It was so cool," said Leykis.
McCord blasted the pictures and notified residents about the situation through email.
"When the cops can't be there, you have to be there…understand that you've got to be a solution to the crime problem," said Leykis.
It's unclear when the suspect was caught by police, but authorities confirmed he was detained a half mile away from where Leykis first saw the man.
