Cerritos Crime Recap: July 29 to Aug. 4

Cerritos Sheriff’s Station deputies conducted 24 Part I felony investigations during this period, an increase of two compared to the week before. Commercial burglaries and vehicle thefts were up, as robberies, residential burglaries and vehicle burglaries declined. There were 287 calls for service handled by patrol deputies last week, down from 343 the previous one. The new 2013 weekly average in calls for service is now 302.

ROBBERIES  

There were no robberies reported last week. One had been investigated the reporting period before.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES 

Residential burglaries dropped during this timeframe from three to two. A front door was shattered and a rear window was pried in the recent cases. Jewelry, a TV and a laptop computer were stolen. The 2013 weekly average in residential burglaries is currently 4.6.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES   

Four “other structure”/commercial burglaries were logged after none the previous week. Three closed businesses and a vacant building were involved.  Doors were pried and shattered and a hole was cut through one wall. The reported losses included cash, laptop computers clothing, iPads and an air conditioning condenser. The 2013 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 2.7.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES   

Vehicle burglaries were down from five to three last week. High-volume commercial parking lots were the crime scenes in two. Two were SUVs. A Playstation, GPS unit and high-end car stereo equipment were stolen. The new 2013 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 6.8.

VEHICLE THEFTS   

Vehicle thefts were up from six to eight.  Six of those were SUVs and six occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. An Acura and a commercial truck were also stolen. The 2013 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 4.1.

* Visit www.safercerritos.com for an extensive library of crime prevention tips, disaster preparedness information, and a variety of links to other pertinent sites.

Crime Map Color Key

• Days is from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. (blue)
• PMs is from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. (orange)
• EMs is from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. (black)
• Unknown indicates a timeframe that overlaps with hours or possibly days from a vacation, a weekend, etc. (red)

Volunteers on Patrol Wanted 

The Cerritos Sheriff’s Station is seeking Volunteers on Patrol (VOPs). Patrolling the city in distinctly marked vehicles, VOPs assist with crime suppression, traffic control, vacation checks, special events and park security checks. They serve as additional “eyes and ears” for the Sheriff’s Department and train as first responders in the event of a major emergency or disaster. If you are interested in helping Cerritos maintain its reputation as a safe place to live and work, the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station encourages you to apply to be a VOP.  

For more information, contact the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station at (562) 860-0044, or visit the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station to obtain an application.  

Block Captains Wanted 

Block Captains act as contacts for the Sheriff’s Department and the Community Safety Division on behalf of their neighbors.  They are also responsible for distributing information and do a great deal to promote public safety in Cerritos. Remember, informed citizens who use safe living strategies are safer citizens!  We encourage residents, business owners, and their employees to consider joining the Virtual Block Club (VBC). If you are interested in helping our Sheriff’s Department prevent and reduce crime, and enhancing your own personal and neighborhood safety, join the VBC on-line at our website devoted to public safety in the City of Cerritos. We encourage you to share the information with your family, friends, and co-workers. Go to www.safercerritos.com to sign up. 

If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain in the Cerritos Neighborhood Watch, contact the Community Safety office at (562) 916-1266.