Crime & Safety

Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Oct. 17 to Oct. 23

The Cerritos Sheriff's Station says that vehicle burglars often look inside of a vehicle to see what's available. So don't allow yourself to become a victim, take the items with you, leave them at home, or lock them in the trunk if you absolutely must hav

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 dropped from 26 to 18 during this period. Robberies and commercial burglaries were up, but residential burglaries, vehicle burglaries, and vehicle thefts were down. Patrol deputies handled 264 calls for service, down from 275 the week before. The current 2011 weekly average in calls for service is 273. 

ROBBERIES

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Two robberies were reported during this week. The first occurred on Monday, Oct. 17 at 11 p.m. when a male suspect wielding a handgun robbed a restaurant in the 12200 block of Artesia Boulevard. The second hold-up was reported at 12:25 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, when two suspects with a knife held up a couple in the 16700 block of Judy Way.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

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One residential burglary was logged during this week, down from three the previous week. In the most recent case, the thief made entry through an unlocked door or window. Property taken consisted of a TV, guitars, and electronic games. The 2011 weekly average in residential burglaries remains at 3.9. 

Sheriff's safety tip: The break-in last week was made possible because the doors and windows were not secured prior to leaving the residence. We always recommend an “exit check”, where all portals are checked and secured before leaving. 

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Commercial burglaries rose from two to three last week. The break-ins occurred at two closed businesses and a fitness center locker. Cash was taken from the businesses and a watch, cell phone, and wallet were removed from the locker. The 2011 weekly average in commercial/“other structure” burglaries is 2.9.   

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries dropped from six to five last week. Three occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots, four invovled SUVs. Wallets, credit cards, a laptop computer, and a third-row seat (from an SUV) were reported stolen. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle burglaries remained at 6.6. The items reported stolen were accessible in the passenger compartments of the various vehicles involved.

Sheriff's safety tip: Thieves know these items are available. Merely looking inside of a vehicle will reveal the appealing contents. Don’t allow yourself to become a victim. Take the items with you, leave them at home, or lock them in the trunk if you absolutely must have them in the car. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Two vehicle thefts were investigated compared to nine the previous week. Only one theft during this period occurred in a high-volume commercial parking lot. An SUV and a commercial truck were taken. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 3.0. 

Sheriff's safety tip: 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.

* Visit www.safercerritos.com for an extensive library of crime prevention tips, disaster preparedness information, and a variety of links to other pertinent sites.


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