CRIME SUMMARY

There were twenty Part I felony crimes reported to the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station last week, down from twenty-five the week before. Robberies increased, commercial burglaries remained the same, as residential and vehicle burglaries along with vehicle thefts decreased. Field deputies handled 264 calls for service, which is up from 230 the previous week. The new 2011 weekly average in calls for service is 259.

There were two robberies investigated last week. At 1:45 p.m. on Thursday February 10, two male teens approached another male teen at Abana Street and Gridley Avenue and took his backpack at knifepoint. At 7:00 p.m. the same evening, a male suspect displayed a handgun in the 13200 block of 166th Street and robbed a male adult victim of cash.

Residential burglaries dropped from six to five last week. Three entries were made possible due to open/unlocked doors or windows, and two windows were pried open. Cash, a handgun, video games, jewelry, and laptop computers were missing. The new 2011 weekly average in residential burglaries is 4.6.

Unfortunately, most jurisdictions report that a leading cause of residential burglaries is that an occupant leaves a door or window open or unlocked. This provides the burglar(s) with an effortless entry into the home. Avoid becoming a victim and take the brief moments needed to make sure that all doors and windows are secured before you leave.

Three commercial burglaries were reported last week, the same as the previous one. All were closed businesses. A shattered door, a pried door, and cut hinges were used as methods of entry. Scrap metal and cash were taken. The 2011 weekly average in “other structure”/commercial burglaries is now 3.4.

Vehicle burglaries decreased from nine to six last week. Five were in high-volume commercial parking lots, and five were SUVs. Property that was missing included third-row seats (from SUVs), purses, wallets, a stereo system, checks, bank deposit bags, and cell phones. The new 2011 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is 6.4.

Visible property left in the passengers compartment continues to be the number one cause of vehicle burglaries. Don’t leave ANYTHING in your vehicle that wil attract a thief.

NO vehicle thefts were reported last week. The 2011 weekly average in vehicle thefts is now 2.5.

The best method to immediately display that your vehicle is protected from theft is the use of a visible deterrent such as a steering wheel lock. This inexpensive “insurance policy” can cost between $30-$50, and tells the commonly pressed for time thief that another target would be more appealing.

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