Fighting crime with coffee: Theft victim reports crime at Barstow Station event

By Mike Lamb, Desert Dispatch
Original article HERE

The strategy of enjoying a cup of coffee with concerned citizens is proving to be a helpful crime-fighting tool for the Barstow Police Department.

Captain Andy Espinoza said he talked with a victim of a cellphone theft that occurred at Denny’s Restaurant Monday morning. The victim showed up at the Coffee with a Cop event held at the Barstow Station later in the morning.

“We had some guy going (to Denny’s) and asking for people’s money and then he took someone’s phone. So we will look into that,” Espinoza said. “The victim was here (Barstow Station) so the detectives talked with him here. The victim was here to tell us what happen.”

Espinoza also said several business owners also talked with him about the transient issues.

“We connected with the homeless team and we are going to get that taken care of,” he said.

Barstow Station co-owner Billy Rosenberg was thrilled to host the event.

“I often said that Barstow has the best police force in California. Once again it’s on display here today. Just take a look,” Rosenberg said, looking toward a group of officers talking to residents.

“Every single one of our police officers have a vested interest in our town. Look at the police chief. He came up from a beat patrol cop and he’s our police chief. That’s truly promoting within. It gives the people who work for him and with him a sense of family and community. And having them in the building, it feels like a family reunion.”