Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Jan. 14 to Jan. 20

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

Cerritos Sheriff's Station personnel investigated 31 Part I felony crimes last week up from 26 the week before. Vehicle thefts increased, robberies and commercial burglaries remained the same, while residential and vehicle burglaries dropped. There were 301 calls for service handled by patrol personnel, up from 280 the previous reporting period. The new weekly average in calls for service is now 284.

ROBBERIES

One robbery was recorded last week. A male shoplifting suspect fought with loss prevention employees at a retail store in the Los Cerritos Center on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 9:30 p.m. He was subsequently taken into custody and a stolen watch was recovered.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries dropped from 10 to five last week. Two windows were shattered, two were pried open, and a window was left open. Cash, jewelry, handguns, laptop computers and liquor was taken. The new 2013 weekly averagein residential burglaries is 8.3.

Sheriff's safety tip: Good neighbors look out for one another. We have noticed that more calls have been coming into the Sheriff’s Station dispatch center to report suspicious activities. This is exactly what needs to be done to help lower our residential burglary statistics. If you see something out of the ordinary, report it without hesitation.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Three commercial burglaries were reported, the same as the last reporting period. Two closed business and a detached garage were the targets. Electrical wiring, a key chain and cell phone charger were the reported losses. The 2013 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 3.0.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries dropped from seven to six during this period. All six break-ins occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots and five involved SUVs. Third-row seats (from SUVs), laptop computers, an air-soft gun, purses, wallets, an MP3 player and perfume were stolen. The new 2013 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 8.3.

Sheriff's safety tip: Note that five SUVs were among the six cases last week and did not have secure trunk space. This fact is known to thieves and the practice of storing valuable items in the passenger compartments makes their job easier and more profitable. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts were up from two to eight last week. Six of the recent crimes were in high-volume commercial parking lots. Six Hondas, an Acura and a Toyota were reported stolen. The 2013 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 4.3.

Sheriff's safety tip: Our overwhelming majority of stolen vehicles include Hondas, Toyotas, and SUVs. This was again reflected in the stats from last week, so if you own one of these vehicles, why not spend $35.00 for a steering wheel locking device. The added protection will help you find your vehicle where you parked it.

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

Crime Map Color Key

• Days is from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. (blue)
• PMs is from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. (orange)
• EMs is from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. (black)
• Unknown indicates a timeframe that overlaps with hours or possibly days from a vacation, a weekend, etc. (red)

Neighborhood Watch Town Hall Meeting Scheduled for April 24

The next Neighborhood Watch Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 7 p.m. at Cerritos Park East. Please note the change of venue from past meetings and join us at 13224 E. 166th St. as members of the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station/Community Safety Center will offer an in-depth presentation on crime in Cerritos. The major topics will be residential burglary prevention and neighborhood vigilance along with the current status of school safety in Cerritos. Plan on being there as we look forward to seeing you and answeringany questions you may have.

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.