Funds Allotted to Pay for Summer Police Party-Patrol Car

Advisory: 7th Council Dist funds allotted to pay for summer police party-patrol car to limit shootings and assaults #LAPD

7^th District Council Funds Allotted for Party Car in Northeast SF Valley

Los Angeles.  The Los Angeles Police Department joined City Councilmember Richard Alarcon, 7^th District, at a news conference this morning, to announce a second allotment of money for a dedicated police party patrol car for the month of June through September.

“I want to thank Councilman Alarcon personally and on behalf of the public in the Northeast Valley for his support,” said Captain Todd Chamberlain, commanding officer of the Mission Community Police Station.  “This time of year is rife for problem parties with the start of summer.  Monitoring the parties is critical in keeping violent crime down.”

“The Party Car might sound like a bit of a misnomer,” said Captain Todd Chamberlain.  “It’s no party for the officers assigned as they patrol through neighborhoods where loud, raucous parties often hold neighborhoods hostage.”

The Party Car was instituted earlier this year as a way to free up regular patrol cars for other, more pressing cases.  “We’re not talking about kids’ birthday parties or baptisms,” Captain Chamberlain explained.  “These are loud, raucous parties that often involve drug use, fights, under-age drinking, and gangs.”

Nearly 5,000 party disturbance calls after 10 PM are logged with 9-1-1 annually in the Northeast Valley; that amounts to about 100 parties per week.  The last allotment from Councilman Alarcon’s office funded a car from November through December, where police answered over 700 loud-party calls.  One party-goer was shot and killed at a party last October, despite the added patrols.

However, in that same period, aggravated assaults dropped 24% compared to the same time in 2011.  “The party patrol played a critical part in reducing those assaults.”  Violent crime is down 21% in the Mission Area for 2013.

“We’ll be tasking the officers on the party patrols to cite minors who are violating curfew,” Captain Chamberlain stressed.  “Too many of our victims and suspects are underage party-goers where the combination of alcohol, immaturity, no supervision, and bravado result in deadly consequences.”

Anyone with information on crimes can report information anonymously to 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.

BOLO. Man in black truck blowing kisses to school children #LAPD

BOLO. Man in black truck blowing kisses to school children #LAPD

Strange Man Blowing Kisses near School

North Hills.

Detectives have released a community alert and composite sketch of a man seen blowing kisses to school children as he sat in his truck near an elementary school in North Hills. Witnesses also thought they recognized the man from a prior incident when he committed a lewd act while sitting in his truck near the same school.

“This is not some benign, friendly gesture,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, head of detectives for the Mission Area Police Station. “This man has been seen here more than once, and his behavior is troublesome and illegal.” 

Police are asking the public to look at the composite sketch of a 25 to 30-year-old Hispanic man with thick hair. The alert includes a picture of a Ford F-150 truck, which is similar to the one that suspect has been seen driving. His truck is black with a model year between 1995 and 2000.

The last incident happened at the Plummer Elementary School on March 12, around 2 PM. The school is located at 9340 Noble Avenue.

“We encourage crossing guards and school monitors to take down the license plates of suspicious vehicles loitering around schools,” Lt. Vernon explained. “All our officers are aware of this suspect and they are on the lookout for the black truck.”

Police officers are still visiting elementary schools at random times each day as part of Operation Embrace. “If nothing else, perhaps the knowledge of those daily visits might deter some of these men from this behavior.”

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call LAPD Mission Detectives, at (818) 838-9967. 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.

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