Crime & Safety

Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Dec. 17 to Dec. 23

Home burglar alarm systems and alert neighbors are crucial crime prevention tools and will make your home and neighborhood much safer, according to the Cerritos Sheriff's Station.

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

Part I felony crimes rose by one incident to 36 during this reporting period, according to the Cerritos Sheriff's Station. Vehicle burglaries were up while robberies, residential burglaries and commercial burglaries were lower. Vehicle thefts remained the same. Field deputies responded to 309 calls for service last week, down from 312 the week before. The 2012 weekly average in calls for service is now 273.

ROBBERIES

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There was one robbery investigated during this period. Three were logged the previous week. A female victim struggled with a purse-snatcher on Friday Dec. 21 at 11:15 a.m. in the L.A. Fitness parking lot located in the 11800 block of Del Amo Boulevard. A suspect was arrested later in the day. 

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

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Residential burglaries dropped from 16 to eight for this reporting period. Five of the residences were entered via unlocked doors or windows. Two windows were pried open and one was shattered. Jewelry, bicycles, laptop computers, cash, TVs and MP3 players were taken. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 5.6.

Sheriff's safety tip: Monitored home burglar alarm systems are responsible for preventing burglaries and alert neighbors are responsible for reporting suspicious activities. These are both crucial crime prevention tools and will make your home and neighborhood much safer.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Commercial burglaries dropped from five to one during this week. The recent crime involved a male suspect that entered a restaurant, ate food and left without paying. Deputies were able to show that the suspect had the intent upon entering the restaurant, therefore the crime could be classified as a burglary. (Burglary defined is the entering of a structure with the intent to commit a theft or a felony). The 2012 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 2.5.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries were up from two the past two reporting periods to 13 logged last week. Ten of the crimes occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. Nine were SUVs. GPS units, stereos, third-row seats (from SUVs), tolls, purses, wallets, a computer bag, laptop computers, and a camera were the reported losses. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 6.8.

Sheriff's safety tip: Visible property inside of the passenger compartment of any vehicle is vulnerable property for the purposes of theft. Not only will the property be stolen, the owner will be replacing a shattered window in most cases.

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts remained the same at five for the third consecutive week. Four cases occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. Two of the stolen vehicles were Hondas, two were SUVs and one was a Toyota. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts remained at 3.6.

Sheriff's safety tip: If you own one of the most commonly reported stolen vehicles in Cerritos, such as an 80’s or 90’s Honda, Toyota, or an SUV, we would urge that you use a steering wheel locking device. Based on the variety of vehicles taken each week in addition to those, a sound approach would be to equip your vehicle regardless of what type it is. 

 * 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.


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