Street Robbery

Did You Know? 

 
* Many of the robberies are of individual victims and are committed by one or more male robbers.
* Most robberies take place on the way to and from a location, your car, your residence, and especially shopping centers.
* The use of a cellular phone or headsets, whether driving or walking, is a distraction which can increase your likelihood of being robbed.
* Robbery is a crime of violence that threatens the safety and quality of life of a community.
* Robbery is a crime of opportunity that can be reduced through awareness and prevention.
* Robbers are serial criminals and will continue to prey on victims until arrested. One of the most important robbery reduction strategies is to arrest the criminal.
* Failure to report a robbery, and not prosecuting the criminal if you are a victim, not providing information to police about robbers ensures continued victimization.

Walk Alertly and Confidently

* Try not to walk alone. It’s a lot safer if you walk with others..
* Be alert, walk with your head up and do not let your mind wander.
* Frequently scan your surroundings, that includes behind you.
* Trust your instincts, avoid uncomfortable situations. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
* Be observant for groups of males/females driving or just hanging around.
* Do not take shortcuts through unlit, sparsely traveled paths such as trails, or alleys.
* If you see something, say something. Any suspicious persons or activities should be reported to LAPD immediately.

While at Home 

 
* Avoid standing alone outside your residence after dark.
* Avoid leaving your residence door unsecured.
* If you are suspicious of someone loitering outside your campus residence, call LAPD at 1 (877) ASK-LAPD

Be Smart About Cash

*Carry only the amount of cash that you expect to use. When possible, use ATM or debit cards rather than cash.
*Avoid outdoor ATM’s, particularly at night and those in secluded areas inside.
*Be alert at banks or check cashing businesses. Carrying cash marks you as a target.
*Avoid showing your wallet. Keep needed cash, ID, and credit cards in an accessible pocket.
*Do not wear expensive or expensive looking jewelry and carry as little cash as possible. Leave valuable items at home if not needed.

What To Do During a Robbery

*Remain calm. DO NOT resist. Try not to be a hero. Take no action that would jeopardize your safety.
*Make mental notes of: the robber’s race, age, height, sex, clothing, complexion, hair, eye color, etc.
*Anything unusual about the robber such as scars or tattoos.
*The number of accomplices and how they left the scene, direction of travel, type and color of vehicle. Get the license number if you can safely do so.
*Any conversations the suspects may have with one another.
*What the suspect’s weapon looked like so you can describe it later.
*Also, try to remember what the suspect touches so that fingerprints may be lifted.

After the Robbery

 
* Go to a safe location close to the robbery scene and call 9-1-1, immediately.
* When possible, ask all witnesses to remain until the officers arrive. If a witness must leave, obtain his/her name, address, and telephone number.
* Witnesses should write or remember their account of the suspects and their actions. Do not discuss the robbery or compare notes about the robber’s appearance with anyone.
* Protect the crime scene. Try not to touch anything.

Stay aware and be safe!

Stop Prostitution

Stop prostitution by reporting it. Businesses, as well as the general public need to report persons loitering for the purposes of prostitution. This will greatly assist our efforts in combating this crime and public nuisance.
 

How can I report prostitution activity in my neighborhood?
 

Prostitution activity can be reported to the Los Angeles Police Department in writing or by personally telephoning or visiting a police facility. Call 1 (877) 275-2573(877) 275-2573 or 1 (877) ASK-LAPD

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Keep your property safe

It is critical that everyone is careful to remove all valuables from their vehicles. The thieves in these crimes are looking into vehicles and spotting items worth stealing. Your purse, house keys, clothing, shoes, iPhones and GPS devices are all prime choices. These suspects break the window or force open the locks and enter your vehicle. From there, your valuable property is removed. By the time you have your vehicle window replaced, ($300.00), take time off from work (half a day), and replace your laptop or iPhone ($500.00) you are now out over $800.00 plus your time. Please don’t leave valuable items in your car. Thieves will only break into your car if YOU leave something behind. You have to, “Lock It, Hide It Keep It.”
 

Communication is also an extremely important tool to increase our successes in our battle against BFMVs. The eyes and ears of the public enable us to identify, locate, and arrest suspects involved in these crimes. In addition, our friends, neighbors and business partners need to be regularly reminded not to leave valuables, particularly electronics, in plain view in their parked cars.

Auto Theft Awareness

Every year in the City of Los Angeles approximately 30,000 vehicles are stolen. In fact, vehicle theft represents approximately 24 percent of the property crimes and 18 percent of total crime in the City. Auto theft is a big and profitable business occurring more often in large cities. According to the FBI crime statistics, a car is stolen every 23 seconds. The experienced car thief can steal the average car in less than a minute. In 2003, 89 percent of the vehicles stolen in the City of Los Angeles were recovered, and of those, 50 percent had been stripped or damaged to some degree. Most cars are seemingly stolen for transportation, while others for the value of their parts. The most frequently stolen vehicles are the most popularly sold over the last decade. For the past five years the most frequently stolen vehicles have been the late 1980’s and early 1990’s model Toyota Camry, Honda Civic and Honda Accord. These vehicles have been targeted because of the ease in which they can be stolen. Owners of these vehicles should take precautions to prevent their vehicle from being stolen.

Car thefts seem to occur with greater frequency where large groups of cars are parked for extended periods of time in places such as shopping centers, colleges, sporting events, movie complexes, and large apartment complexes. Car thefts occur at random on different days of the week and times of the day, depending on the locations.

Below are some tips you can use to avoid being the victim of a car thief:

* Never leave your car running unattended, even to dash into a business, store, etc.;
* Never leave any keys in the car or ignition, inside a locked garage, or in hide-a-key boxes;
* Always roll up your windows and lock the car, even if it is parked in front of your home;
* Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked. Put them in the trunk out of sight;
* Always park in high-traffic, well-lighted areas, when possible;
Install a mechanical device that locks the steering wheel, column, or brakes. These devices will deter some criminals;
* Investigate the purchase of a vehicle theft tracking/security system, especially if you own one of the frequently stolen model vehicles;
* Never leave personal identification documents, vehicle ownership title, or credit cards in your vehicle;
* Copy your license plate and vehicle information (VIN) numbers on a card and keep them with you. If your vehicle is stolen, the police will need this information to take a report; and,
* If your vehicle is stolen, report it to the police immediately.
 

Remember, there is no guarantee that your car will not be stolen, but taking precautionary measures can minimize your chances of becoming the victim of auto theft.

Neighborhood Watch

Want to know the best crime prevention tool ever invented? 

 – A good neighbor!

In fact, neighbors working together in cooperation with law enforcement can make one of the best crime-fighting teams around.

We call it...Neighborhood Watch

What is it?
Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program which enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities.

It involves:
• neighbors getting to know each other and working together in a program of mutual assistance;
• citizens being trained to recognize and report suspicious activities in their neighborhoods; and
• implementation of crime prevention techniques such as home security, Operation Identification, etc. 

You may hear it called NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, Home Alert, Citizen Crime Watch or
Block Watch. The idea is the same: Neighbors looking out for each other!

Who can participate?

• City people
• Country people
• Suburban residents
• Apartment dwellers
• Mobile home residents
• Young people
• Senior citizens
• Men
• Women
• Families
• Couples
• Singles . . .
• in summary . . . YOU!

Why Neighborhood Watch?
• Over 40 million crimes are committed every year and the number is still growing.
• There can't be a law enforcement officer on every corner, so citizen involvement is essential to combat this social crisis.
• By cooperating with each other and the police, people can help fight crime in their community the most effective way — before it begins.
 

How do I get involved?

First — Contact your local Mission Senior Lead Office and explain that you are interested in joining or starting a Neighborhood Watch group.

Remember — law enforcement officers can't be everywhere at once — but you and your neighbors can. Put that neighborhood "know how" to work. It's simple:

• Use your eyes and ears and then your telephone.
• If you spot something suspicious, call the police or sheriff immediately.