Community Corner

🌱 How Irvine’s new crime center is cutting local crime double digits

Spotted on the Irvine calendar: Skating Under the Stars: Holiday Hats ft. melin

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday December 18th Patch AM
Thursday December 18th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Cheers Irvine! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Irvine’s new crime center is cutting local crime double digits
  • What can you now borrow for free from Irvine’s library?
  • How Irvine police say you can avoid becoming a bank jugging target

Also on today's calendar: Skating Under the Stars: Holiday Hats ft. melin and 3 more events.

Find out what's happening in Irvinefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Irvinefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 75 and low of 47 degrees.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 72, low: 50.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 69 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Calif. agency's real time crime center reshapes response, drives double-digit crime drop (gov1.com) — Irvine’s new $2 million Real Time Crime Center is now central to local policing, monitoring over 1,000 camera feeds and drones to support thousands of calls. Police report double‑digit drops in property, violent, and residential crime since it launched, crediting faster responses, license plate readers, and rooftop drones with helping officers track suspects and recover stolen property citywide.
   

2. Irvine's New 'Library of Things' (irvinecommunitynewsandviews.org) — Irvine residents can now borrow everything from tools to musical instruments through the Irvine Public Library’s new “Library of Things,” using a regular library card at no extra cost. Most items loan for 21 days with generous renewals, and residents are invited to email suggestions for new items the library might add to the collection.
   

3. "Jugging" Crimes Are Spreading Across California, Officials Warn. How To Stay Safe. Bay Area Telegraph (bayareatelegraph.com) — Irvine police recently made arrests in a vehicle burglary they say fits a growing “bank jugging” pattern, where thieves follow people from banks or ATMs to steal cash. Agencies from the Bay Area to Southern California are warning residents to hide cash, watch for people lingering near banks, and head to a police station or call 911 if they suspect they’re being followed.
   

4. Heart Attacks, Illness Spiked After LA Fires (cedars-sinai.org) — UC Irvine researchers are part of a 10-year, multi-university effort studying how the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires affected residents’ heart, lung, and overall health. Early Cedars-Sinai data show sharp spikes in heart attacks, pulmonary illness, and general sickness in the 90 days after the fires, prompting calls for more research on how wildfire smoke and stress harm urban communities.
   

5. Salad dressings recalled in 27 U.S. states because they could contain "foreign objects" (cbsnews.com) — An Irvine-based company, Ventura Foods, has recalled more than 3,500 cases of salad dressings sold at Costco and other retailers in 27 states because they may contain bits of black plastic from contaminated granulated onion. Local shoppers who bought these dressings are urged to stop using them and can return affected products to Costco for a full refund.
   

📸 Around Irvine

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Irvine

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

📣 Irvine Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • We put out our annual holiday treats for delivery workers.
    They REALLY appreciate it! Consider trying it. (Nextdoor The Ranch-Irvine)
  • Old photo of me and my siblings.
    I was just a baby. Picture was taken in 1963 Saigon Zoo in Vietnam. My mom is now 87. Do you have old photos of your family? (Nextdoor The Terrace Association)
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Bakery Wrapper / Clean Up in Irvine. Apply here.
  • HDR, Inc. posted a job opening for Area Digital Delivery Manager in Irvine. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Irvine here.

Ok Irvine! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Irvine