Cerritos Crime Recap: June 10 to 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 crime investigations logged by Cerritos Sheriff’s Station personnel last week, down from 33 the week before. Robberies, vehicle burglaries and vehicle thefts increased. Residential and commercial burglaries were down. There were 343 calls for service handled by patrol deputies last week, up from 304 the previous one. The 2013 weekly average in calls for service is now 283.

ROBBERIES

There were two robbery cases reported during this period. 

On Thursday, June 13 at 5:35 p.m. a male victim met with a male suspect in the 18600 block of Gridley Road to conduct the sale of an expensive watch that the victim had advertised on the internet. The suspect grabbed the watch and fled. 

At 6:41 p.m. on Friday, June 14 a female victim was returning to the 16400 block of Stowers Avenue after visiting a bank. A male suspect grabbed her purse from behind and ran away with it.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

Residential burglaries dropped for the second consecutive week from four to one. Entry was made via an unlocked window and the loss was recorded as jewelry and cash. The 2013 weekly average in residential burglaries remained at 5.1.

Sheriff's safety tip: Neighbors are continuing to call in suspicious persons and vehicles to the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station. This is greatly appreciated as the community continues to be the “eyes and ears” of law enforcement in their respective neighborhoods. We encourage you to be involved in the partnership with your deputy sheriffs in making Cerritos a safer place.

COMMERCIAL/OTHER STRUCTURE BURGLARIES

“Other structure”/commercial burglaries were also down from four to one last week. Tools, a computer and copper tubing were taken from a closed business after a key had been removed from a lock box. The 2013 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is 2.9.

VEHICLE BURGLARIES

Vehicle burglaries were up from six to seven last week. Only three of the recent cases occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. All seven involved SUVs. Property reported stolen included cash, GPS units, stereos, keys, a surfboard, sunglasses, checks, a Bluetooth and CDs. The new 2013 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 7.8.

VEHICLE THEFTS

Four vehicle thefts were investigated last week after none the week before. Three of the four crime scenes were in high-volume commercial parking lots. Two SUVs, a Honda and a Nissan were missing. The 2013 weekly average in vehicle thefts is 3.8.

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

Crime Map Color Key

• Days is from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. (blue)
• PMs is from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. (orange)
• EMs is from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. (black)
• Unknown indicates a timeframe that overlaps with hours or possibly days from a vacation, a weekend, etc. (red)

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.