Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Aug. 22-28

 personnel logged 18 Part I felony crimes during this period, down from 24 the week before. Residential and commercial burglaries increased, vehicle thefts remained the same, and robberies and vehicle burglaries declined. Field deputies responded to 270 calls for service last week, down from 312 the previous reporting period. The current 2011 weekly average in calls for service is 273. 

ROBBERIES

There were no reported robberies during this period.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries increased from four cases to seven during this week. Open/unlocked doors or windows were responsible for four entries, a door was kicked in, a window was shattered, and another was pried open. Laptop computers, cash, purses, cell phones, credit cards, an MP3 player, and jewelry were among the items reported stolen. The 2011 weekly average in residential burglaries remains at 3.8. 

Sheriff's safety tip: It is very difficult to pry open a window that is equipped with security devices, such as locking pins. Hardware that holds the windows tightly against the frame will inhibit the movement necessary to force the window open.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

 Commercial burglaries increased from one to two in this period. A glass door and a window were shattered. Drugs (from a pharmacy), and cash (from a restaurant) were the items listed as stolen. The 2011 weekly average in commercial/“other structure” burglaries is 3.2.  

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries dropped from 12 to seven this week. Six of the break-ins occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots, and six of the cases involved SUVs. Cash, laptop computers, a guitar, checkbooks, purses, credit cards, and CDs were taken. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle burglaries remained at 6.3. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Any visible property left in the passenger compartment of a vehicle is fair game to a would-be thief. If you leave items in plain view, your risks substantially increase that a window will be shattered and the items will be stolen. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts remained at one for the third consecutive week. An SUV was taken from a high-volume commercial parking lot. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle thefts is 2.7. 

Sheriff's safety tip: As with a car burglary, you can be your own best police officer by using a steering wheel locking device when parking in commercial parking lots (especially if your car is ten years or older, and especially if it is a newer SUV or older model Toyota or Honda).

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