Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Sept. 10 to Sept. 16

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

There were 22 Part I felony cases reported to the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station last week up from the 15 the previous week. Residential burglaries and vehicle thefts increased, commercial burglaries remained the same while robberies and vehicle burglaries declined. There were 324 calls for service handled by patrol personnel last week, up from 238 the  week before. The new 2012 weekly average in calls for service stands at 270. 

ROBBERIES

There were no robberies reported last week.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Five residential burglaries were logged compared to three for the past two weeks. Last week there were three entries due to open/unlocked doors or windows, one front door was pried open and one window was shattered. Jewelry, a laptop computer, a washer and a dryer were taken. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 4.6. 

Sheriff's safety tip: We remind residents to make an “exit check” each time they leave the home. Make sure that all doors and windows are secured, even if the weather is warm. Don’t present an opportunity for a burglar to enter your home with ease. When you return, you can “air out” the residence in a short period of time. This is a much safer practice than finding valuable property stolen when you get back. 

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

Two commercial burglaries were reported, the same as the week before. A fitness center locker and a closed business were targeted. Keys and a lock were taken from the fitness center and computers and cameras were removed from the business after the front door was pried open. The 2012 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 2.0.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries were down for the second consecutive week after one was reported. There were four the week before. A high-volume commercial parking lot was the location of the case last week. Two cloth bags were taken. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 7.4. 

Sheriff's safety tip: Vehicle burglars look for any visible item located in your passenger compartment. If your property is secured in the trunk or removed from the vehicle, there will be no reason for them to shatter a window and enter. Remember, the items you leave are fair game.   

VEHICLE THEFTS

After a week with no reported vehicle thefts, eight were investigated last week. Four Hondas, one SUV, a Toyota, a BMW and a Nissan were stolen. Five were taken from high-volume commercial parking lots. The new 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts remained at 3.2.

Sheriff's safety tip: Vehicle thefts and vehicle burglaries in residential areas mainly occur during the early morning hours. If you hear a motor running, dogs barking, or other unusual noise, don’t be afraid to turn on a porch light and take a look. There is nothing wrong with letting the criminal know that you are aware and that your neighborhood is not a good place to find victims.  

 * 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.