Cerritos Weekly Crime Recap: Jan. 30 to Feb. 5

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

Part I felony investigations conducted by the  dropped from 25 to 19 last week. Robberies, commercial burglaries, and vehicle thefts increased. Residential burglaries and vehicle burglaries dropped. There were 241 calls for service handled by patrol personnel, up by one from the previous week. The current 2012 weekly average in calls for service is now 254.

ROBBERIES

Three robberies were logged compared to only one the week before.

• A restaurant in the 10700 block of South Street was robbed by a lone gunman on Monday Jan. 30 at 2:15 p.m.  
• A vehicle was taken by force on Feb. 3 at 9:46 a.m. in the 19000 block of Elton Circle, but all the parties are known to one another.  
• A bicycle was the target of a robbery attempt on Feb. 5 at 8:50 p.m. Four juveniles pushed the rider down and tried to take the bike near Alondra Boulevard and Bloomfield Avenue but fled without it.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries dropped from three to two last week. In a unique case, a hole was cut in an attached garage door and a bicycle was taken. A window was shattered in the other where a laptop, watches, and a purse were stolen. The 2012 weekly average in residential burglaries is now 4.2.

Sheriff's safety tip: Burglars look for the easiest and most quiet way to enter homes. While we have experienced some unusual window smashes lately, the most popular method is still locating an open or unlocked door or window, or prying open a sliding glass door or window. Make sure that you conduct the “exit check” by looking at all doors and windows before you leave the residence. Close them and lock them. If you do not already have them, install locking pins to keep the window tightly against the frame. This makes prying almost impossible.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

After two weeks without a commercial burglary, one was reported last week. A lock was removed from a fitness center locker and a wallet, cell phone, keys, and ID were stolen. The new 2012 weekly average in commercial/“other structure” burglaries is 1.0.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

No vehicle burglaries were investigated during this period. The 2012 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 4.6. 

VEHICLE THEFTS

Vehicle thefts increased from four to seven. Five of the vehicles were stolen from high-volume commercial parking lots.  Four Hondas, two Toyotas, and an SUV were taken. The new 2012 weekly average in vehicle thefts is 5.8

Sheriff's safety tip: All of the Hondas and Toyotas stolen last week were manufactured in the mid-1990s. These are commonly stolen vehicles in Cerritos. The use of a steering wheel locking device provides a good deterrent to vehicle thefts.

* 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.