Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: May 14 to May 20

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

There were 15 Part I felony crimes were investigated by members of the  last week, down by two cases from the week before. The only categories to increase were residential burglaries and vehicle thefts. All others in this report were down. Calls for service by patrol personnel were down from 279 to 271. The 2012 weekly average in calls for service is 263.

ROBBERIES

There were no robberies reported during this period.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries were up from one case to four last week. Open/unlocked doors or windows were responsible for three entries and a window was shattered. Guitars, cash, iPads, TVs, jewelry, and Social Security cards were taken. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 4.0. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Burglars are known to select their targets after knocking on a door for a period of time to see if anyone answers. We recommend that if you do not want to answer the door, from the safety of being behind that locked and deadbolted door, loudly announce that you cannot open the door at the time and the caller(s) should return later in the day. You have now demonstrated that you are there at the time and will be later. This is not a good situation for a burglar.    

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

One commercial burglary was reported, down from two the week before. A storage unit was burglarized after a lock was cut. Golf clubs were missing. The 2012 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 1.6. 

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries were also down from nine last week. High-volume commercial parking lots were the crime scenes in both cases. One of the vehicles broken into was an SUV. Backpacks and cash were the only reported loss items. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 7.4.

Sheriff's safety tip: Any item left inside of a vehicle becomes “fair game” to the would-be thief. Items that are left in plain view are even more vulnerable and account for the majority of the cases. Vehicle burglary is the most frequently reported felony crime in the city of Cerritos. Why take a chance? If your property is valuable and important to you, consider leaving it at home or taking it with you when you exit the vehicle. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts rose from two to three last week. Two occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. Two Hondas and a Chevrolet sedan were stolen. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 3.9. Even though we see more Hondas, Toyotas, and SUVs stolen compared to others, car thieves are not always as selective as you think and are most often just looking for transportation.  Consider a steering wheel locking device that serves as a good visual deterrent.

Sheriff's safety tip: Regardless of the make or model of vehicle that you drive, any form of vehicle security is better than none. Car thieves are not always as selective as you think and are most often just looking for transportation. Consider a steering wheel locking device that serves as a good visual deterrent. 

* 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.