Violent Paroled Rapist Cuts Off GPS and Runs

Picture of Joseph Serapiglia.  Please keep your eyes open and report it to the police is you see him.

 

Violent Paroled Rapist Cuts Off GPS and Runs

San Fernando Valley:  Joseph Serapiglia, who is a violent registered sex offender, absconded from authorities and police would like to warn residents in the community of this dangerous parolee.

On December 19, 2014, Serapiglia was last seen near the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard in the city of Panorama City.  He cut off his court ordered GPS monitor device and escaped to an unknown location.  According to Los Angeles Police Department’s Registration Enforcement and Compliance Team (REACT) detectives, Serapiglia is a dangerous felon who has exhibited a violent nature and is a threat to the communities of Southern California. 

On July 30, 1991, Serapiglia was sentenced to 42 years in prison for attempted murder and rape.  On April 16, 2014, after serving 23 years of his sentence, he was released to live in the community of San Fernando, California.  Eight months later, Serapiglia is now a parolee at large and the police are asking for the public’s assistance in his capture.

Serapiglia is described as a 43-year-old Hispanic male with brown hair, brown eyes and a bushy mustache.  He stands 5 feet and 11 inches tall and weighs approximately 175 pounds.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact REACT Detective McPartland at (951)809-1647 or Officer Sanchez at (818) 669-5511.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Make sure your home is secure over Christmas and the New Year

The weeks leading up to Christmas are the biggest shopping weeks of the year and for many retailers often accounts for 70% of their annual revenue. Stocking our homes with the latest electronic gadgets, computers, jewellery and must-have accessories is commonplace; unfortunately it provides criminals with the perfect incentive to commit burglaries.

1. Deterring would-be criminals is one of the most effective forms of crime prevention;

Invest in a motion sensor floodlight or even some outdoor Christmas lights to highlight your home's exterior. This makes approaching your home too conspicuous for burglars. Also, highlighting the fact your possessions are security marked and registered on Immobilise using window decals provide a further warning that your goods are traceable and not worth the risk of stealing!

2. Festive lighting - be secure;

A common mistake of many festive decorators is to feed extension cables through partially open windows, criminals know to look for this vulnerability. When it comes to outdoor lighting, opt for solar or battery operated lights or install outdoor electrical outlets.

3. Dispose of gift packaging carefully;

Refuse collections over the Christmas and New Year period are normally at different times. If you can't take packaging to a recycling point, make sure you only put your rubbish out just before the collection and do your best to break apart boxes so that they do not advertise your new contents of your home to thieves!

4. Be careful not to advertise your home to burglars on social media!;

According to one recent study, social media is a commonly used tool for scouting potential targets. Social media savvy families have a tendency to publish their whereabouts during the holiday season, including any vacation plans. This lets burglars know when your house is going to be empty. Uploaded photos of pricey Christmas gifts can also be a problem as it basically allows burglars to go shopping just by viewing your Facebook profile.

5. Check doors and windows for weak spots;

Government statistics show that 30% of burglaries happen through windows. Installing a few dead-bolts and new window hinges could increase the security of your home exponentially.

6. Keep your curtains, drapes and window blinds closed at night;

Make sure valuable items are out of sight. When going out for the evening make use of inexpensive timers to give the illusion of occupancy.

7. Away over Christmas - plan ahead!;

If you're going away at Christmas be sure to cancel any newspaper or milk subscriptions. Arrange for a neighbour to park on the driveway to help create the impression someone is home. Do not leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages and again make use of light timers.

8. Secure garages and sheds;

Make sure that garden tools or ladders that could be used to force entry into your home are not left lying around or accessible from an unlocked garden shed. Garages are often targets for burglars looking for tools, bikes and gardening equipment - make sure the garage is secure and your possessions are secured too in the case of bikes and tools. Naturally make sure anything portable / valuable is recorded on immobilise.

9. Don't hide keys and use alarms if you have them;

Burglars know to look for hidden door keys so don't hide spare keys under rocks, in flowerpots, or above door ledges. Instead give the spare key to family or trusted neighbour. Many houses these days have alarms, many though are rarely set, make sure yours is on and protecting your home.

10. Lastly don't forget to register your gifts on Immobilise!;

Most consumer electrical goods have a unique identification code such as a serial number or for mobile phones an IMEI number - the IMEI number can be found quickly and easily by pressing the following keys on your mobile handset: * # 06 #. If your gift doesn't have a unique identifier there are several affordable marking kits available from the Immobilise store allowing the police to easily identify the owners of items they recover and so detect crime.

Hopefully your property will not be targeted by burglars and the advice provided helps to keep your home safe. From everyone at Immobilise have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!