Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Jan. 23 to Jan. 29

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

 deputies investigated 25 Part I felony investigations during this period, up by one case from the week before. Increases were noted in robberies and vehicle burglaries. Commercial burglaries remained the same, as residential burglaries and vehicle thefts dropped. Patrol deputies responded to 240 calls for service, which is down from 261 the previous week. The current 2012 weekly average in calls for service is now 258. 

ROBBERIES

One robbery was investigated during this period when two male suspects robbed a lone male at gunpoint on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 12:15 a.m. in a closed park in the 13600 block of Acoro Street. 

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries dropped from six to three last week. Two front doors were kicked in and the third was caused by an open/unlocked door or window. Jewelry, coins, laptop computers, cameras, and electronic games were taken. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 4.8.

Sheriff's safety tip: Good neighbors look out for one another. If you observe any suspicious activities in your neighborhood, don’t hesitate to call the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station at (562) 860-0044. By knowing who belongs on your street, you are able to tell if something (or someone) is out of place.  

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

For the second consecutive week there were no commercial/“other structure” burglaries reported. Three were logged the week before. The new 2012 weekly average in commercial/“other structure” burglaries is 1.0.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries were up from three to eight last week. Six of the break-ins occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. Six were SUVs. Stolen items included ID, plates, coins, wallets, batteries, iPads, a purse, a laptop computer, a stereo, and a camera. The new 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 5.8. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Rarely will a vehicle burglar enter your car just to “look around”, but one location where that possibility increases is in a fitness center lot. People are afraid to use lockers inside and as a result, leave their vulnerable cash, jewelry, credit cards, and ID in their vehicles -- criminals know this. The best rule to follow is leaving the property at home or at the office. If you must have it with you, lock it in the trunk. If you own an SUV, pick-up, or van, the crooks know that you do not have a trunk and likely have left valuable items where they can get to them. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts were down to four after the nine reported during the previous period. Two Hondas, an SUV, and a commercial trailer were all taken from high-volume commercial parking lots. The new 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts is 5.5. 

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. These are important especially if you own a Honda or Toyota produced in the 80’s or 90’s, or you own an SUV -- these are the most commonly stolen vehicles in Cerritos.

* 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.