by Carolyn Seitz
cmseitz@mindspring.com
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has released preliminary Crime Stats for the year to date through June 30, 2012. You are accustomed to seeing these Stats monthly with a comparison to the same period of time for calendar year 2007 and for calendar year 2011. The two pages below show Part 1 crime rates.
You may view the entire 119 page report on the Sheriff's Department's website here: http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_148405.pdf
The first page shows you how Altadena's crime rates compare to all of the areas of Los Angeles County serviced by the Sheriff's Department. You'll note that Part I crime rates have been increasing across the County in a manner consistent with increasing crime rates all over Southern California. While Altadena's Part 1 crime rates are statistically lower than they were in calendar year 2007, we continue to see an increase in residential burglary rates, vehicle burglary rates and robberies as is reflected on page two, which shows you a breakdown of all Part 1 crimes for Altadena. With respect to the number of rapes reported, unfortunately in almost every circumstance, those alleged to have committed these crimes were known to their victims. Often, they are acts of domestic violence.
The Altadena Sheriff's Station currently has additional resources deployed in Altadena with a specific goal of reducing these crime rates. Thanks to the partnership with this community, the deputies and detectives continue to catch burglars in the act or when they're fleeing the scene of a burglary or attempted burglary, and they've been successful at catching many robbery suspects either as they're exiting the business they've just victimized, or the suspects have been caught shortly after. The successful arrests of residential burglars is directly attributable to vigilant neighbors who've observed strange behavior (criminals in a neighbor's yard or coming out of a neighbor's yard), and the "stupid" criminals who have been attempting entry in many residences while the residents were home. In both circumstances, quick calls to the Sheriff's Department, sometimes with very good descriptive information about the criminals has been making a difference and resulting in arrests.
We can't stress enough the importance of guarding your personal belongings so they aren't left visible in your vehicles. You've probably heard it 52 times when the Detective Lieutenant at the Altadena Sheriff's Station distributes the weekly crime blotter, and another 12 times when these crime stats are released, but the rate of thefts from vehicles continues to escalate and as the blotter informs us, people are losing some very expensive items from their vehicles. Don't set yourself up to be a victim. Please keep your valuables out of sight or out of your vehicle altogether.
Please continue to report suspicious activity. The Station's number is 626 798 1131. Please also take a look around your yard and driveway, or wherever it is you park your vehicles. If you park in your garage, you're less likely to be a victim of vehicle theft, especially if your garage is also locked. If you don't have motion activated lights that would light up your driveway, entry door areas, rear of your home and side yards, you might consider installing them. The motion sensors can often be adjusted so a dog, cat, opossum, skunk or raccoon wouldn't trigger the light, but a criminal would.
Please continue to stay vigilant and stay safe - and call the Station early and often!!
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Carolyn Seitz is a public safety volunteer and Altadena's Citizen of the Year for 2010.
