Cerritos Sheriff’s station weekly crime summary- August 2-8, 2010

Part I felony crime investigations last week dropped from twenty-eight the previous week to twenty-six. Residential burglaries increased, robberies and vehicle thefts remained the same, and commercial and vehicle burglaries decreased. Calls for service were up from 300 to 330 last week. The 2010 weekly average in calls for service is now 302.
One robbery was reported after a male suspect entered a home to commit a residential burglary in the 11300 block of Candor Street on Wednesday August 4 at 10:47 a.m. The victim (resident) returned home to find the suspect inside and challenged him. The suspect pulled out a gun that he had just stolen from the bedroom and the victim backed off before the suspect fled.
Six residential burglaries were investigated last week compared to four the previous one. Open/unlocked doors or windows were involved in three cases, a kitchen door was kicked, and a window was pried open. Jewelry, a clock, appliances, a washer and dryer, and cash were stolen. The current 2010 weekly average in residential burglaries is 2.1.
Cerritos Sheriff’s Station has received numerous reports from Volunteers on Patrol that garage doors are being left open at an alarming rate. Many remain open into the night. While ventilation is the primary purpose, the opportunity presented to thieves is significant. If you absolutely must have ventilation from this source, consider only raising the door 4-6 inches. This provides a breeze but protects the contents of your garage from view, thus lowering the chances that items will be stolen.
There was one commercial burglary reported last week, down by one from the previous week. A rear door was pried at a closed business where tools were taken. The 2010 weekly average in commercial burglaries is 2.7.
Vehicle burglaries dropped from fourteen the week before to five for this reporting period. High-volume commercial parking lots were involved in all five. Three of the vehicles last week were SUVs, two victims reported stereo items missing, and a GPS unit was removed in one incident. Other items stolen were an MP3 player, laptop computer, and a cell phone. The new 2010 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is now 7.0.
Think twice about the property you leave in your vehicle, especially if it a pick-up or an SUV. Storing property in the passenger compartment, especially leaving it in plain sight, is exactly what the vehicle burglar will be looking for. Last week’s cases illustrate that items left in a vehicle were of value to the thieves. If it is valuable and important to you, consider leaving it at home or taking it with you when you exit the vehicle.
Vehicle thefts cases remained the same at five, four of which were from high-volume commercial parking lots. Four of the cases involved SUVs, and one an Acura. The 2010 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 4.7.
A great deal of success in the recovery of stolen vehicles has been demonstrated by tracking devices that can lead law enforcement directly to a specific location. These systems cost a little more and require a monthly fee, but are very effective.