Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: April 1 to 7

Editor's Note: The information below comes from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Cerritos Station's weekly crime summary.

There were 22 Part I felony cases investigated by Cerritos Sheriff's Station deputies last week, up by two incidents from the week before. Residential and “other structure” burglaries increased, robberies remained the same, and vehicle burglaries and vehicle thefts declined. There were 290 calls for service handled by patrol personnel, down from 309 the previous reporting period. The 2013 weekly average in calls for service is 274.

ROBBERIES

For the second consecutive week there were no reported robberies.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Two residential burglaries were logged during this period. A window was left partially open at one location and a window was shattered at the other. Cash, Social Security cards and an iPad were taken. The Cerritos Sheriff’s Station Burglary Task Force has developed suspect and vehicle information in one of the crimes. The new 2013 weekly average in residential burglaries is 5.1.

Sheriff's safety tip: Investigative leads come from alert citizens who report suspicious activities right away. This partnership in community safety is critical in identifying suspects and recovering stolen property. The staff at the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station/Community Safety Center is very appreciative of residents willing to step forward and address crime in Cerritos.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

“Other structure”/Commercial burglaries were up from two to five last week. Three closed businesses were involved where cable, copper wire and laptop computers were stolen. ID, credit cards and an iPhone were removed from a fitness center locker. A wallet, credit cards and ID were taken from a detached garage via an open door. The 2013 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 2.7.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries dropped again from eight to six last week. High-volume commercial parking lots were the crime scenes of all the incidents. Two SUVs and a commercial truck were among those targeted. A stereo and GPS unit were reported stolen along with clothes, keys, jewelry a cell phone and a purse with ID. The new 2013 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 8.3.

Sheriff's safety tip: As evidenced by some of the stolen items last week, valuable property continues to be left in parked vehicles and, in turn, taken. Don’t allow yourself to be deprived of your important possessions. Lock them in a trunk (if you have one) or take them with you.

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts were also down from four to two last week. One occurred in a high-volume commercial parking lot and the other in a residential area. A Honda and a Nissan were reported missing. The 2013 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 3.1.

Sheriff's safety tip: An effective and inexpensive “insurance” policy would be to utilize a steering wheel locking device. The Honda taken last week was a 1997 model, as many ‘80s and ‘90s era Hondas are. Equip your Honda with the added protection.

 * 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)

Neighborhood Watch Town Hall Meeting Scheduled for April 24

The next Neighborhood Watch Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 7 p.m. at Cerritos Park East. Please note the change of venue from past meetings and join us at 13224 E. 166th St. as members of the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station/Community Safety Center will offer an in-depth presentation on crime in Cerritos.

The major topics will be residential burglary prevention and neighborhood vigilance along with the current status of school safety in Cerritos.

Plan on being there as we look forward to seeing you and answeringany questions you may have.

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.