Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Aug. 6 to 12

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 investigations were logged at the last week down from 25 the week before. An increase occurred in vehicle thefts, robberies remained the same, while residential, commercial and vehicle burglary crimes declined. There were 310 calls for service last week, which is also down from 290 the previous reporting period. The 2012 weekly average in calls for service is currently 270.

ROBBERIES

For the second consecutive week two robberies were reported.  

On Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 3:45 a.m. a male victim was approached in the 12500 block of Fallcreek Lane by a male suspect with a handgun. The victim relinquished his cell phone. At 10:05 p.m. that evening two males were getting into a vehicle in when a gun-wielding male suspect took their cell phones, wallets and vehicle. Both suspects were subsequently arrested. 

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries dropped by one from 11 to 10. Five of the current cases were attributed to open/unlocked doors or windows. Three windows were shattered and two were pried open. Safes, jewelry, laptop computers, keys, ID, cash and vehicles were among the loss items. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 4.6. 

Sheriff's safety tip: We had a residential burglary last week where the suspect(s) forced entry only to flee when the alarm system was activated. This saved the victim from losing valuable and oftentimes, irreplaceable property. The alarm system is the type that we recommend and had a very loud audible siren accompanied by a signal that was sent to the alarm company. They in turn contacted the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station. A very good investment!  

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

There were no commercial burglaries reported last week. The 2012 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 1.9. 

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries dropped again from six crimes to four last week. All four break-ins took place in high-volume commercial parking lots. Two were SUVs. Clothing, a shockwave therapy machine, laptop computers, cosmetics, coins and credit cards were stolen. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 7.6. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Visible property contained within the passenger compartment is extremely vulnerable. Thieves are attracted to easy targets and if you accommodate them by leaving items for them to see, they will remind you how bad of an idea that was.

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts rose from one to four last week, all from high-volume commercial parking lots. Two SUVs, a Honda and a Toyota were taken. The new 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 3.3. 

Sheriff's safety tip: We always promote the use of steering wheel locking devices as great visible deterrents, but also endorse the use of tracking devices that can lead to the speedy recovery of your stolen vehicle.  

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

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.