Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Sept. 19 to Sept. 25

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

The  said Part I felony crimes dropped from 28 the previous week to 19 for this reporting period. Vehicle burglaries were up, but robberies, residential burglaries, commercial burglaries, and vehicle thefts declined. Calls for service also dropped from 277 to 255. The current 2011 weekly average in calls for service is 273. 

ROBBERIES

One robbery was reported on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 12:50 p.m. when an ex-boyfriend assaulted a female victim in the 17500 block of Bloomfield Avenue and took her necklace.  

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Five residential burglaries were reported during this period. One was attributed to an open door, three windows were pried open, and one window was shattered. TVs, guitars, cash, jewelry, knives, a wallet, and headphones were missing. The 2011 weekly average in residential burglaries remains at 3.8.

Sheriff's safety tip: Rear windows and doors that are not properly secured are the easiest and the most frequent points of entry in residential burglaries. Even though you have locked these doors and windows, it may still be possible to pry them open due to movement both laterally and vertically from the frame. Make sure that you have the necessary hardware installed, such as locking pins or inserts in the frame to inhibit movement, and that you check each one before departing the residence.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

One commercial burglary occurred at a fitness center where a lock was cut and a wallet and an MP3 player were taken from the locker. The 2011 weekly average in commercial/“other structure” burglaries is 3.1.  

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries increased from six to nine during this week. Nine of the break-ins occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots, eight involved SUVs. Laptop computers, cell phones, purses, wallets, a briefcase, and a third-row seat (from an SUV) were taken. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle burglaries remained at 6.4. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Remember, it is common knowledge that drivers will leave valuable items in the passenger compartment of their vehicles. This allows the would-be thief a “sure shot” when breaking into your car. They have the opportunity to see exactly what they want to take and will do so if you give them the chance. If you absolutely must have valuable items in the vehicle, make sure that they are locked in the trunk. If you do not have a trunk, take the property with you or leave it at home. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts dropped from eight to one last week. A Honda was stolen from a residential street. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle thefts is 2.9. 

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 often just looking for transportation. Consider a steering wheel locking device that serves as a good visual deterrent.

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