Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Dec. 12 to Dec. 18

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

deputies investigated 35 Part I felony crimes last week, up two cases from the week before. Increases from the last reporting period were noted in robberies, commercial burglaries, vehicle burglaries, and vehicle thefts. Residential burglaries declined. There were 274 calls for service last week, down from 302 the previous week. The 2011 weekly average in calls for service is 272.

ROBBERIES

There were three robberies reported during this period.

• On Monday, Dec. 12 at 1 a.m. two males were walking southbound on Shoemaker Avenue at 195th Street when a van pulled beside them. Two suspects exited the van and robbed the victims at knifepoint.  
• On Wednesday Dec. 14 at 9:30 p.m. a woman was walking in a lot at the Cerritos Towne Center when she was pepper sprayed by a lone male suspect, who took her purse.  
• A male suspect stole money from a parked vehicle in the 13300 block of Artesia Boulevard on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 12:59 p.m. but was seen doing so by the owner. When confronted, the suspect produced a knife that caused the victim to back off. The suspect then fled on foot but was located and arrested by deputies in the area of Cerritos Park East.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries dropped from seven to five last week. Open/unlocked doors or windows were the entry points in two cases. The remaining three break-ins involved side garage door entries. Two were kicked in and one was pried open. Jewelry, laptop computers, GPS units, cash, and a purse were reported stolen. The 2011 weekly average in residential burglaries is 4.0. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Help be the “eyes and ears” of the Sheriff’s Department in your neighborhood. Make sure that you report any suspicious persons or vehicles to the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station right away.  This also applies to those going door-to-door, as this is a common means of “casing” a neighborhood in search of victims 

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Commercial/“other structure” burglaries rose from one to five last week. Three unlocked detached garages were burglarized where golf clubs, cash, and miscellaneous paperwork were taken.  A fitness center locker was targeted and the victim reported a wallet with credit cards, ID, and cash missing. The fifth case involved the burglary of a school where a window was shattered and computers stolen. The 2011 weekly average in commercial/“other structure” burglaries is 2.9.  

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries were up by one incident last week at 12. Nine of those cases occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. Ten were SUVs. Cash, laptop computers, wallets, backpacks, ID, tools, jewelry, wrapped gifts, cell phones, and third-row seats (from SUVs) were the reported losses. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is currently 6.8. 

Sheriff's safety tip: If you own an SUV, van, or pick-up, you don’t have the option of using trunk space to secure valuable items. Often people will not even make an attempt to conceal these valuables. Thieves know this. We recommend that you never leave anything of value in your vehicles. With nine of the twelve crimes last week involving SUVs, you can see the thief’s preference.

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts increased by two as six were logged last week. All six vehicles were taken from high-volume commercial parking lots. Two were Hondas, and the others involved a Toyota, an SUV, a Saturn, and a motorcycle. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 3.4. 

Sheriff's safety tip: We always promote the use of steering wheel locking devices as effective and inexpensive 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.

OPPORTUNITIES

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.