Crime & Safety

Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Feb. 20 to 26

Do not leave any valuables in your car where they can be seen -- if you leave a thief no opportunities, you can't be victimized.

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

deputies investigated 18 Part I felony crimes during this reporting period, down from 25 in the previous one. Residential burglaries and vehicle thefts remained the same while robberies, commercial burglaries, and vehicle burglaries declined. Patrol deputies handled 239 calls for service, down from 275 the week before. The new 2012 weekly average in calls for service is now 253. 

ROBBERIES

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One robbery was logged on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 8:15 p.m. in the Towne Center, where a female victim was walking in the parking lot and a male passenger in a vehicle leaned out and grabbed her purse.  

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

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Residential burglaries remained the same at five last week. The suspects gained entry into the homes through open/unlocked doors or windows in four of the cases. A window was pried open in the fifth. Cash, tennis rackets, golf bags, bicycles, jewelry, and electronic games were the reported losses. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries remained at 5.0. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Other than open/unlocked doors or windows, prying a sliding glass door or window is the most common means of entry to the residence. It is very difficult to pry open a window that is equipped with security devices, such as locking pins or secured with a track slide lock. 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 dropped from three to one last week. A window was shattered on a closed business, but at the time of this summary, no loss had been determined. The 2012 weekly average in commercial/“other structure” burglaries is 1.4

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Seven vehicle burglaries were reported last week, down from nine the past two weeks. Six of the break-ins involved SUVs, and six occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. Wallets, purses, eyeglasses, keys, cameras, laptop computers, a gym bag, prescription medication, and ID were taken. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 6.0. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Do not leave any valuables in your car where they can be seen. Better yet, try to never leave valuables locked in your car to the extent possible. If you leave a thief no opportunities, you can’t be victimized. Be especially aware of your vulnerability if you drive a pick-up, SUV, or van. Thieves know that you do not have secure trunk space. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts remained the same this week at two. High-volume commercial parking lots were the crime scenes in both cases. One of the vehicles was an SUV, and the other a Honda. Our 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 4.8.

Sheriff's safety tip: It is very important that you use some form of an anti-theft device to retain your vehicle. Visible deterrents, such as a steering wheel locking device, are the most obvious and tell the would-be thief to look elsewhere. A great deal of success has been demonstrated by tracking devices that can lead law enforcement directly to the location of a stolen vehicle. These systems cost a little more and require a monthly fee, but are very effective.

* 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.


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