by Carolyn Seitz
Public safety volunteer
cmseitz@mindspring.com
Below are two pages of crime stats that many of you are accustomed to seeing every month. The first page shows you how Part I crime rates for Altadena compare to crime rates for all areas serviced by the The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and you'll see how crime rates year-to-date to March 31, 2012 compare to crime rates for the same types of crimes and same period of time for 2007 and also for 2011 to give you some historical perspective.
The second page provides a breakdown of Part I crimes so you can evaluate both violent crime rates and property crime rates January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012, for the same period in 2007 and in 2011.
If you would like to review the entire 119 page report, here is the link: http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_148405.pdf
While the Altadena Station experienced some of the largest reductions in Part I crimes between mid 2010 and the end of 2011, crime rates began to rise in January 2012, consistent with increases in crime across Southern California, and although Altadena's stats show a 45.4% decrease in violent crimes over a 5 year period, we have also experienced a large increase in rapes and robberies.
As has been previously report by Lt. Duane Allen, the Detective Lieutenant at Altadena Station, the spike in the number of rapes reported is largely attributable to a suspects known to the victims.
The spike in robberies, like the spike in burglaries and reported incidents of grand theft auto may be in part the result of the prison realignment law which has released convicted felons back into communities all over Southern California and in Altadena at least one parolee released was caught in act of burglarizing a residence in Altadena. He was wearing an ankle monitor and had only been out of prison a few days. The methods he used to make entry into several residences was the same he'd employed in previously burglaries which had resulted in the conviction which sent him to prison.
Other law enforcement agencies have also been reporting the same kinds of "knock - knock" burglaries as many of you have reported. These incidents are consistently reported as someone knocking loudly on the front door and if no one responds, even to let their presence in the residence be known, the burglar(s) quickly look for the easiest way to make entry, sometimes through an unlocked front door, an open window along the side of the residence, an open/unlocked door or window in the rear of the house, and lately, also garages.
It is critically important to respond to those loud knocks on your doors - even to yell "I can't come to the door right now". If it is someone at your door who knows you, they'll let you know that. Please let your kids who may be home alone know to do the same thing - let their presence be known - without opening the door. They can yell "we can't come to the door right now".
It is also as important as ever to continue to report suspicious, odd or unusual behavior in your neighborhood. Please call the Sheriff's Station at 626 798 1131 and provide as much descriptive information about what appears suspicious or unusual to you, including height, weight, clothing description of people you are reporting, and/or vehicle description, or anything else that catches your eye, but remember to gather that info from a safe distance.
Please let me know if you have questions and as always, stay safe!
