Crime & Safety
Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Nov. 26 to Dec. 2
With the holiday season upon us, the Cerritos Sheriff's Station reminds residents that potential thieves may be walking or driving by homes to observe anything highly visible that is placed under a Christmas tree.
Editor's Note: The information below comes from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Cerritos Station's weekly crime summary.
For the third consecutive week, 27 Part I felony crimes were reported to the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station. Residential and commercial burglaries increased, while robberies, vehicle burglaries and vehicle thefts dropped. Patrol deputies responded to 231 calls for service last week, down from 274 the previous one. The 2012 weekly average in calls for service is 270.
ROBBERIES
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There were no robberies reported last week.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
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Residential burglaries rose from three to eight last week. Open/unlocked doors or windows were used as entry points in seven of the recent crimes. A window was shattered in one case. Cash, jewelry, computers, iPhones, cell phones, and a Playstation were reported as loss items. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 5.1.
Sheriff's safety tip: Many people like to display their Christmas tree in a front window where it can be shared with neighbors, and anyone walking by. Keep in mind that potential thieves can also be walking or driving by and that anything placed under the tree can be highly visible. Protect these items by not advertising that they are available when you leave the home.
COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES
Commercial burglaries increased from four to seven last week. Four storage units were targeted resulting in the loss of kitchen items, electronics and other miscellaneous property. A suspect has been arrested in those crimes. Two lockers were breached where wallets, cell phones and ID were taken. Copper wire was stolen from a closed warehouse after the front door was forced open. The 2012 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 2.4.
VEHICLE BURGLARIES
Vehicle burglaries were down for the third week after three were logged. There were six the week before. All three of the burglaries last week took place in high-volume commercial parking lots. A jacket, a stereo, wallets, clothing and a backpack were missing. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 6.9.
Sheriff's safety tip: Storing property in a car’s passenger compartment, especially leaving it in plain sight, is exactly what the vehicle burglar will be looking for. Vehicle burglars rarely enter your vehicle to just look around, but are instead attracted to an item that they can see from outside. And please keep in mind that a thin sheet of automobile glass is really very little protection. If your property is valuable and important to you, consider leaving it at home or taking it with you when you exit the vehicle. Remember, law enforcement officers seldom observe and stop a car burglary in progress, but you can stop every car burglar who targets your car by practicing “safe living strategies.”
VEHICLE THEFTS
Vehicle thefts were down again from five three last week. All three were in high-volume commercial parking lots. A Honda, a Toyota and an SUV were stolen. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts remained at 3.5.
Sheriff's safety tip: Hondas, Toyotas and SUVs tend to dominate the list of the most commonly stolen vehicles in Cerritos. Regardless of how few vehicle thefts are reported, we generally see one or more of each taken. This is again reflected in the statistics from last week. If you own one of these vehicles, taking every precaution to protect them is crucial. At the very least, we recommend that you invest in a steering wheel locking device. They are 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.
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