Detained! Orinda Police Arrest Man Driving SUV Filled with Mismatched Socks
Source: Picture taken by Moraga Sky Protector, Moraga’s police helicopter (3)
Orinda, CA – Orinda Police arrested Steve Lyden late Friday night, July 10, after pulling him over for a minor traffic violation. What started as a routine stop quickly turned unusual when Officer Carol Romo noticed Lyden’s SUV was filled to the roof with mismatched socks.
At approximately 11:55 PM, Officer Romo stopped Lyden for making a turn without signaling and having a missing tail light. Upon closer inspection, she saw the vehicle was packed with all sizes and colors of socks. When questioned, Lyden did not have a satisfactory explanation for the odd cargo.
Reinforcements arrived on the scene, and a search of the vehicle uncovered burglary tools, a step ladder, a pair of black coveralls, and a flashlight. Lyden was taken into custody and subjected to nine hours of intense questioning.
During interrogation, Lyden confessed to breaking into Orinda's homes and stealing single socks from laundry loads being dried. He admitted to taking only a few socks at a time, sometimes sneaking a lucky t-shirt if time allowed. However, no t-shirts were found in his vehicle at the time of arrest.
For years, Orinda residents had noticed missing socks but generally attributed it to carelessness or misplacing them. The unusual nature of the crime meant it was never reported. "I’ve been working 911 for years and never remember hearing a call about a stolen sock. I guess people didn’t know they had been robbed. It reminds me of something Wells Fargo would do," remarked a local dispatcher.
The discovery of numerous children’s socks in Lyden’s vehicle saddened investigators. "I can’t imagine the trouble and blame directed at children for losing socks when it was really an outsider sneaking into their house," said one officer.
The arrest of Lyden has raised concerns about a possible larger crime ring. Two weeks prior, Moraga police arrested a woman with identical burglary tools whose car was filled with TV remotes and orthodontic retainers. "I put little Lucas in time out for losing his retainer again. He said somebody must have stolen it. I guess he was right," one resident commented. “I threw away my husband’s favorite old tee shirt. I’m sure he looked great in college in it, but now with his gut hanging out the bottom, It had to go. Hopefully, he will think it was the sock bandit.” stated a local resident who asked to remain nameless.
A task force has been assembled to return the recovered socks, retainers, and TV remotes to their rightful owners. Unfortunately, many households have already discarded the unmatched pairs of socks. Cyrus McDaniel, a junior at Miramonte High School and a member of Scout Troop 243, suggested donating the single socks to individuals who have lost limbs due to landmines. However, this idea faced legal and health-related hurdles. “I guess I’m just going to repaint the ball washers at OCC for my Eagle project.” (1)(2) stated a discouraged McDaniel.
"We don’t have the original bill of sale or a statement of fibers used to create the sock. We can’t risk allergic reactions. The people potentially receiving these socks have gone through enough, and serious eczema would only worsen a bad situation," stated Muhapa Duan, Director of Eastern African Operations, UNICEF.
As Orinda’s residents come to terms with the unusual crime wave, the local police continue their efforts to ensure the community’s safety and return stolen items. The incident has shed light on the strange and unexpected ways in which crime can impact everyday life, leaving many to wonder what other oddities might be lurking in the shadows
1) A ball washer is a machine, not a person.
2) The balls being washed are golf balls
3) I can’t believe we had to have the Moraga police helicopter have to respond to this incident. Why don’t we have our own helicopter? We deserve it.