Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Dec. 26 to Jan. 1

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

 deputies investigated 27 Part I felony crimes in the final week of 2011, down from 29 the previous reporting period. Vehicle burglary cases increased and vehicle thefts remained the same. Robberies, residential burglaries, and commercial burglaries were down. 249 calls for service were handled by patrol personnel, down from 298. The final average in weekly calls for service in 2011 was 272. 

ROBBERIES

There was one robbery reported. On Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 3:15 p.m. a male shoplifting suspect threatened loss prevention employees at a retail store in the 10900 block of Alondra Boulevard and fled with stolen merchandise. 

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries dropped from eight to six last week. Open/unlocked doors or windows were involved in four cases, and one sliding glass door was pried open. In the sixth burglary, a garage door opener was taken from a vehicle that had been parked in the driveway and used to access the garage and home. Jewelry, tools, a laptop computer, and a bicycle were stolen. The final 2011 weekly average in residential burglaries was 4.1.

Sheriff's safety tip: Consider removing your garage door opener from any vehicle parked outside and take it into the home with you. Utilizing these openers is not an uncommon method to gain entry by burglars. 

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Commercial/“other structure” burglaries were down to one incident compared to three the week before. . The final 2011 weekly average in commercial/“other structure” burglaries was 2.8.  

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries increased from nine to ten last week. Nine of the break-ins took place in high-volume commercial parking lots. Eight were SUVs. Purses, checkbooks, backpacks, cameras, wallets, clothing, and credit cards were among the missing items. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle burglaries ended at 7.1. 

Sheriff's safety tip: The safest place to leave items inside of a vehicle is in your locked garage. Remember that wherever you park, you become “fair game” to any thief that can look inside of your vehicle and observe valuable property. Whether you park on a street, in a parking lot, or even your own driveway, the thin window that separates your property from a thief is not any protection at all. Window smashes are the most reported points of entry in vehicle burglaries. Don’t become a victim by giving a criminal the chance to make you one. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts remained the same at three last week. Two vehicles were taken from high-volume commercial parking lots. Two SUVs and a Honda were stolen. The final 2011 weekly average in vehicle thefts was 3.4. 

Sheriff's safety tip: None of the vehicles stolen last week were equipped with a steering wheel locking device. A common complaint among motorists is that these devices are too cumbersome and take time to engage and remove. If you own one of the most commonly reported stolen vehicles in Cerritos, such as an 80’s or 90’s Honda or Toyota, or an SUV, we would suggest that one of these devices become part of your auto accessories.

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

OPPORTUNITIES

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.