Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: April 30 to May 6

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

There were 33 Part I felony investigations conducted by members of the last week, down by two cases from the previous week. Commercial burglaries and vehicle thefts were up, but robberies, residential burglaries, and vehicle burglaries dropped. Field personnel responded to 274 calls for service, up from 269 the week before. The 2012 weekly average in calls for service is 263. 

ROBBERIES

There were no robberies reported last week.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries decreased from five to four last week. Two of the homes were entered via unlocked doors/windows, a sliding glass door was shattered, and a window was pried. Handbags, a TV, a coin collection, cameras, and laptops were taken. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 4.2.

Sheriff's safety tip: Remember, the hot weather is coming and residents are known to leave doors and windows open for ventilation. Unfortunately, residential burglars know this too.   

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Seven commercial burglaries were reported compared to two the previous reporting period. All were closed businesses. Four occurred in the same building in the 18000 block of Studebaker Road. Checks, clothes, computers, and tools were stolen. The 2012 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 1.3.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries were down from 19 to 14 last week. High-volume commercial parking lots were the crime scenes in 12 cases. Ten involved SUVs. Purses, ID, credit cards, MP3 players, headphones, wallets, sunglasses, rings, and a passport were among the items reported as stolen. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 7.6.

Sheriff's safety tip: Keep your windows rolled up, doors locked, and all valuable items out of the passenger compartment. If they must be stored in the vehicle, keep them in the trunk. If you do not have a trunk, remember that 10 of the 14 vehicle burglaries last week were SUVs that do not have trunks. Trust us, there is a connection!

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts were up from two to four last week. Three occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. A Honda, an SUV, a Nissan, and an Acura were stolen. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 4.1. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Protect your vehicle with some form of security. GPS tracking devices are useful after the vehicle is stolen, but a good visual deterrent may help you avoid that situation. Consider a steering wheel locking device. 

* 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.