Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Jan. 21 to Jan. 27

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

Part I felony crime investigations conducted by the Cerritos Sheriff's Station dropped from 31 to 27 last week. Residential and vehicle burglaries increased, robberies remained the same, while commercial burglaries and vehicle thefts declined. Patrol personnel handled 262 calls for service last week, down from 301 the previous reporting period. The new weekly average in calls for service is now 278.

ROBBERIES

One robbery was reported during this period when a female shoplifting suspect struggled with and choked a loss prevention employee at a retail store in Los Cerritos Center on Friday, Jan. 25 at 3:01 p.m. She was ultimately taken into custody.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries were up from five to nine during this period. Three of the recent cases were attributed to open/unlocked doorsor windows, three windows were pried, two windows were shattered and one door was kicked in. Passports, jewelry, handguns, tools, purses and cash were stolen. The new 2013 weekly average in residential burglaries is 8.5.

Sheriff's safety tip: If you see something, say something! Contact the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station to report suspicious persons and vehicles in your neighborhood.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Commercial burglaries dropped from four to one last week. A closed business was targeted for a computer after the front glass door was shattered. The 2013 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 2.5.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries rose from six to nine during this period. Eight of the crimes occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots, and eight involved SUVs. iPads, purses, credit cards, cell phones, wallets, backpacks and ID were stolen. The new 2013 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 8.8.

Sheriff's safety tip: Again, SUVs were the overwhelming majority of burglarized vehicles last week because they did not have secure trunk space. Make sure that you take valuable items with you instead of leaving them in the passenger compartment to be stolen.

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts were down from eight to one last week. A trailer was taken from a high-volume commercial parking lot. The 2013 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 3.5.

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. 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.

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.