Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: July 11-July 17

The  received 27 Part I felony reports of crime during this period. All categories in this report increased over the week before with the exception of vehicle burglaries, which remained the same. The Sheriff's Department was unable to report calls for service in the last summary, but data made available shows that there were 327 handled by patrol personnel the previous week, and that figure dropped to 280 last week.  The current 2011 weekly average in calls for service is 272.       

ROBBERIES

There was one robbery reported during this week. On Thursday, July 14 at 11:30 a.m. a landscaping crew was working in the 17700 block of Studebaker Road when they observed three suspects loading one of their lawnmowers into a van. As they ran to stop the theft, one of the suspects produced a handgun and the workers backed off and allowed the suspects to flee with the property.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries increased by one this week when four were logged. Two were attributed to open/unlocked doors or windows, one front door was kicked in, and one window was pried open. Cash, jewelry, and bicycles were stolen. The 2011 weekly average in residential burglaries is 3.7. 

Sheriff's safety tip: One of the most opportunistic crimes committed is a garage burglary that is made possible by contents that are seen from the sidewalk and street. This type of crime becomes more prevalent in warmer weather when residents leave the door open for ventilation. Many thieves will seize the moment without having any prior intention to steal solely because they were given an easy target. That said, make sure that you keep your garage door closed unless you are present to monitor anyone passing by. 

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

There were six commercial burglaries investigated during this period, up from two the week before.  Five of the break-ins occurred at closed businesses where windows were shattered, and the sixth burglary happened when a lock was removed from a fitness center locker. Laptop computers, monitors, tools, and a printer were taken from the businesses, and a wallet from the locker. The 2011 weekly average in commercial /“other structure” burglaries is 3.2.  

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries remained the same at six during this time period. High-volume commercial parking lots were involved in five of the cases, and five of the stolen vehicles were SUVs. Sunglasses, purses, boots, a gift bag, an MP3 player, and luggage were reported stolen. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle burglaries remained at 5.9.

Sheriff's safety tip: Think twice about the property you leave in your vehicle, especially inside an SUV. If it is valuable and important to you, consider leaving it at home or taking it with you when you exit the vehicle. Valuable items left within the passenger compartment make it just too easy for a thief.

VEHICLE THEFTS

Seven vehicle thefts were investigated, five occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. Five early 90’s Hondas, an SUV, and an Infinity were taken. The 2011 weekly average in this crime is now 2.9. 

Sheriff's safety tip: It is very important that you use some form of an anti-theft device to retain your vehicle. Visible deterrents, such as a steering wheel locking device, are the most obvious and tell the would-be thief to look elsewhere. A great deal of success has been demonstrated by tracking devices, which help lead law enforcement directly to the location of a stolen vehicle. These systems cost a little more and require a monthly fee, but are very effective. 

Neighborhood Watch Town Hall Meeting Scheduled for August 17, 2011

The next Neighborhood Watch Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday August 17, 2011 at 7 p.m. at the  located at 12340 South St. near Ely Avenue. Members of the sheriff's  will offer an in-depth presentation on crime in the city. Attendees are encouraged to bring any questions they might have on safety concerns and issues.