Stolen Cars Trending in SFV - Why and how to protect your car #LAPD

Car Theft Trending – Protect Your Car

For most of us, our car is a must-have and connects us with making a living and being more productive, so it makes sense to take measures to ensure our car will be parked in the morning, where we left it last night.

Car theft in the northeast San Fernando Valley is up by nearly one-third (+50) for the first quarter of the year.

Here’s the profile of stolen cars in LAPD’s Mission Area:

• Hondas and Toyotas
• Over 10 years old
• Parked on the street overnight

These cars are typically taken for just a couple days then left somewhere, sometimes not far from where they were stolen, and the cars are rarely stripped for parts.

Detectives have noted, from time to time, that cars are stolen in the vicinity of large parties, or conversely, previously stolen cars are often found in the neighborhoods where large parties had taken place recently.

“What this trend indicates to us,” says Capt. Todd Chamberlain, commanding officer of the Mission Police Station,  “Is that suspects are using the cars for transportation and perhaps to commit crimes.”

The northeast San Fernando Valley is densely populated and the number of cars over 10 years old is quite abundant.  “What makes these older model cars so vulnerable is the ease at which suspects can take the cars,” Capt. Chamberlain explained.

As cars get older, they become less secure:  locks don’t work, windows get broken or malfunction, but in particular, ignitions become warn.  This is especially true for Hondas and Saturns over 10 years old where the pins in the ignition become so warn, car thieves can use shaved keys to start the cars.

Two days ago, officers caught a female burglar who also had a key ring of five shaved keys.  “That just shows us that crooks doing the property crimes have diversified, breaking into houses, cars, AND stealing cars.  There’s no specialization anymore.  It’s where ever they can make a buck,” Capt. Chamberlain said.

Here are some ways to protect your older car from being used as someone’s personal limo for a day or two:

1. Install a hidden kill switch, which you can turn off after parking the car
2. Use a steering-wheel-to-brake-pedal locking bar.  Crooks will see that bar and move onto an easier car to steal
3. Repair broken locks and windows to deter crooks from breaking in
4. Park your car in secured, well-lit areas
5. Repair broken ignition systems
6. Install alarm systems; many include a kill switch as a part of the system

Prepared by
Lt. Paul Vernon
LAPD Mission Area

Food Forward

Food Forward is an organization that will come to your house to pick the large amounts of fruit that you cannot use and donate it to local food banks.  Please post this information as well.  The group is called Food Forward.  The phone number is: 818 530- 4125;  e-mail is: foodforward.org. 

Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is an organization that will come out, trap feral cats, take them to be spayed or neutered, given shots and have their right ear tipped so they don't keep trapping the same ones.  They will bring them back to where they found them, but they will not be getting pregnant or fighting loudly during mating season.  The group is called Best Friends Animal Society.  The phone number is:  818 823-3188;  e-mail is victoriaj@best friends.org.


Unfortunately, because they do bring the cat back, this doesn't get rid of the problem, it just helps control it.

CRITICAL MISSING ELDER FROM SYLMAR CARE FACILITY

CRITICAL MISSING ELDER FROM SYLMAR CARE FACILITY

Sylmar. Police are asking the public's help in locating Richardo Celis Cortez, 84, who walked away from the Abbey Road Villa senior care home in Sylmar.

Richardo was last seen on camera in the facility on April 15, around 6:15 PM, walking through the front gates, unescorted. It appeared he went north bound on Hubbard Street.

Richardo suffers from Alzheimer's disease and may appear disoriented or confused. He does know his first and last name, but may recall little else.

Richardo was last seen wearing a blue, hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans. He has a small build, fair complexion and gray hair. His mental condition is considered poor.

Police searched through the night looking for Richardo, using helicopters and patrol cars. They have also contacted local hospitals in the event Richardo is admitted for care.

This case is a good reminder to all who have elders in their care to sew personal information into clothing or give the elder a medic alert bracelet that authorities can use to identify and relocate them.

Anyone with information on Richardo'a whereabouts is asked to call LAPD's Mission Area watch commander or 9-1-1. The watch commander's number is (818) 838-9800.

The phone number to the Abbey Road Villa senior care facility is (818) 419-9914.

This message will be updated with a photograph as soon as it's available.

Advisory Message: Security Guard fatally shot at Panorama City strip mall

Security Guard Fatally Shot at Strip Mall

Panorama City.  Detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 48-year-old security guard at a Panorama City strip mall on Roscoe Boulevard last night, April 11 (This is the Winchell's Strip Mall on Roscoe at Noble).  According to local business employees, the guard had patrolled the mall for at least 8 years.

And employee from the liquor store heard a gunshot around 9:50 PM and called 9-1-1.  When he went outside to investigate, the clerk found the uniformed security guard lying in a walkway between two stores, leading to the rear alley.  He appeared dead.  Paramedics soon verified he had died at the scene.

Detectives interviewed another witness who saw the security guard arguing with a Hispanic man, wearing a brown hoody, just minutes before the shooting.

“The guard was a good man, trying to make a living in an honorable way,” said Capt. Chamberlain, commanding officer of the Mission Area Police Station.  “He was trying to keep the area free of problems so customers could patronize the markets.  No doubt he has a family.  These shootings are very sad and unnecessary.”

Police brought in a search dog to look for any evidence along the presumed path of escape for the shooter, through the rear alley.  Detectives canvassed the stores for information about the security guard and any persons with whom he might have had contact.

“The motive for the shooting is not clear,” said Capt. Chamberlain.  “So we’re asking the public to come forward in this case with any information related to the security guard or any suspects.
The strip mall is located at 15025 Roscoe Boulevard.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Ryan Verna, Mission Homicide Unit, at (818) 838-9976.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts

Mission Station Open House

“Open House Day” here at our station on May 18, 2013 starting at 10:00 AM and ending at 3:00 PM. We are providing tours of the station, children activities, and resources from throughout the City of Los Angeles.  We invite everyone to have fun in our Open House on this special day.

Some Useful Phone Numbers:

I know I have posted these before, but here they are again.

Some Useful Phone Numbers:

Auto Repair in Residential Area – Dept. of Building & Safety: 888-524-2845. Minor emergency repairs must be completed within 24 hours. All other auto repair should be done within a building or an area wholly enclosed from view by wall or fence. Auto Repair in a residential area for profit or as a business is against the law (LAMC 12.221A(a), 12.21A8(a).

Bee infestation Information:    800-233-9279

Blighted property – Dept. of Building & Safety, Problem Property Resolution Team:         888-524-2845 or 311.

Child Abuse – Child Abuse Protection Unit – Provides a comprehensive approach to detecting, intervening and prosecuting child abuse crimes in the early stages of the cycle of child abuse:  213-485-2352 or 311 or Child Abuse Hotline: 800-540-4000

Dead Animal Pick-up – Bureau of Sanitation: 800-773-2489 or  311

Elder Abuse Hotline:                 877-477-3646

Graffiti Removal:  311

Identify Theft – Mission Area Police Station: 818-838-9800. Equifax: 800-685-1111.   

Experian: 800-397-3742.           

Trans Union: 800-680-7289.  

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): 877-438-4338.                                

Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General: 800-269-0271

Illegal Residential Home Based Business – Dept. of Building & Safety: 888-524-2845 or 311.

Mosquito Control – Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District: 800-371-4402 or 311.

MISSION AREA POLICE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY

Emergency Only         9-1-1   

Non-Emergency 877- ASK-LAPD

Mission Station Front Desk:    818-838-9800

Non business hours call:    818-838-9820

Mission Community Relations Office:    818-838-9860

Senior Lead Office:    818-838-9840

Captain’s Office:    818-838-9980

Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) if you want to remain anonymous.

NON-EMERGENCY City Services Phone Numbers:

One Call Does It All for all City Services …………………..3-1-1

County Services ………… 2-1-1

CD7: 818-756-8409

CD6: 818-778-4999

ASM 39: 818-504-3911

SEN 20: 818-9015588

[ www.CrimeMapping.com  will send you the most current crimes within your area. Stay informed! Sign-up today.