Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: May 28 to June 3

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

There were 34 Part I felony crimes reported to the last week, up from 24 the previous reporting period.  Residential burglaries, commercial burglaries, and vehicle thefts were up, while robberies and vehicle burglaries were down.  Patrol deputies handled 295 calls for service, up from 291 the week before.  The 2012 weekly average in calls for service is 267.

ROBBERIES

There were no robberies reported last week.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries increased from three to 10 last week. Four of the crimes were recorded in the area off of Artesia Boulevard between Carmenita Road and Marquardt Avenue. Eight of the cases were facilitated by open or unlocked doors or windows, and two windows were shattered. Computers, cash, jewelry, and cameras were stolen. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 4.2. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Leaving windows open to cool the home can be very costly. Consider the ease burglars had in eight of the 10 cases last week. It only takes a short period of time to cool the house upon your return, and a few moments of discomfort is much better than the pain victims suffer when their homes are burglarized. 

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Commercial burglaries rose from two to three last week. Two fitness center lockers were targeted for wallets, ID and keys. A closed business was involved in the third case where an unlocked door was used to gain entry resulting in the loss of metal products. The 2012 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 1.7.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries dropped from 13 to nine during this period. High-volume commercial parking lots were the crime scenes in eight last week. Seven of the break-ins involved SUVs. Purses, wallets, cell phones, laptop computers, credit cards, CDs, clothing, and ID were among items taken. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 7.7.

Sheriff's safety tip: Remember, less than a quarter of an inch of glass is not sufficient to protect property left in a vehicle. Seven of the nine cases last week had windows shattered to gain entry. These visible items are very appealing and the thief knows exactly what he or she is getting. Avoid the problem and lock the items in the trunk or take them with you. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Two vehicle thefts were reported last week. Two SUVs were stolen from high-volume commercial parking lots. The 2012 weekly average in this category is now 3.6.   

Sheriff's safety tip: We always promote the use of steering wheel locking devices as great visible deterrents, but also endorse the use of tracking devices that can lead to the speedy recovery of your stolen vehicle.  

* 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.