The Crime Scene
- Car Break-ins and Theft from Vehicles. In the February edition of the Crime Prevention Connection it was reported that auto burglaries and thefts from vehicles were dominating our crime statistics. Over fifty of these crimes occurred in the month of February. Towards the end of the month, Alhambra officers arrested two groups of auto burglars resulting in six persons being charged with breaking into vehicles. During an interview with one of the arrestees, the arrestee told our detective that he, “liked coming to Alhambra to break into cars because he would always find good stuff.” In other words, way too many Alhambrans are leaving their valuable items visible in the passenger compartment of their cars making our city a desirable place for car burglars. We want to reverse this trend and we need your help! Whenever possible, don’t leave your valuable property inside your vehicle. If you must, then lock it up in the trunk or, concealed in some other area of your car. Never leave anything in plain sight!
- Mailbox Break-In’s. A number of reports have been made to the Alhambra Police Department and to the US Postal Inspectors Office where mail boxes have been the target of break-ins. Most of these crimes have occurred in apartment and townhome complexes with centralized mailboxes. One person was arrested for mail theft earlier this month. This is a difficult crime to detect and prevent. Consider direct deposit for any checks you receive through regular mail. Never leave your outgoing mail for collection by your postal carrier. It is best to take your outgoing mail directly to the post office. If you think you have been a victim of mail theft, contact the US Postal Inspector at your local post office.
- Graffiti Arrests. Good news on the vandalism/tagging wars. Three individuals have been recently arrested. Two cases have been adjudicated with one juvenile being sentenced to six-months in camp and a $25,000 fine/restitution. Since he just turned eighteen, he will be responsible for paying his fine, not his parents. Another juvenile has been sentenced to probation and a fine/restitution of $3500. And my favorite tagging arrest is the person responsible for tagging all the Bonita Avenue postal trucks. Because the postal trucks are federal government property, the US Postal Inspectors Office is considering federal charges. The person arrested is an adult and he should be looking at some serious felony time for his tagging crimes.
A Recap Of The Annual Block Captains Meeting
Sixty neighborhood watchers attended the Annual Alhambra Neighborhood Watch Block Captains Meeting, on February 23, 2010. The following is a recap of what we discussed.
1.) Crime Statistics. Chief of Police Jim Hudson, acknowledged the efforts of Alhambra’s neighborhood watch groups in helping to reduce crime. Statistics reveal that Alhambra’s crime rate has been dropping steadily over the past seven years.
2.) The US Census. Census personnel explained the purpose of the US Census and how the Census will be conducted. Census workers noted that the Official Census questionnaire is only ten questions asking, name, relationship, gender, age, and date of birth, race, ethnicity, and whether the respondent owns or rents his or her home. No personal information such as social security numbers, banking information, or any account information will be asked. Completing your Census form and mailing it back is the best way for you to participate in the Census. If you do not mail your form back to the Census, they will send out a Census worker to your house. Census workers will carry photo identification badges and other official government identification. Census workers will not ask to come inside your home. The City of Alhambra will have information about the census on the City of Alhambra website, cityofalhambra.org
3.) Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.). The Alhambra Fire Department is looking for participants for its upcoming C.E.R.T. classes. Members of Neighborhood Watch are invited to attend these classes which cover such topics as, fire suppression, disaster psychology, search and rescue, and dealing with the after effects of a natural disaster or terrorist act. If you are interested in taking this course, please call the Alhambra Fire Department.
4.) Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is a Los Angeles area “tip line” for people who have information about crimes to report what they know, anonymously. If the tipster’s information leads to an arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for a crime, the tipster may receive and award of up to $1000. For more information on Crime Stoppers, please visit the Crime Stoppers website at lacrimestoppers.org, or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
5.) Staying In Touch With Neighborhood Watch. The Alhambra Police Department currently has over 250 registered Neighborhood Watch block captains, and over 3500 Neighborhood Watch members. Neighborhood Watch information and crime news can be found in the Around Alhambra, on the police department web pages at cityofalhambra.org, and the department’s Facebook pages. Electronic crime alerts can also be sent to neighborhood watch members e-mails and to their cell phones as text messages, through the Nixle service. For more information or to subscribe to Nixle, please visit nixle.com. All neighborhood watchers are encouraged to share their e-mail address with the Alhambra Police Department Crime Prevention Office for monthly neighborhood watch news and crime alerts.
Sixty neighborhood watchers attended the Annual Alhambra Neighborhood Watch Block Captains Meeting, on February 23, 2010. The following is a recap of what we discussed.
1.) Crime Statistics. Chief of Police Jim Hudson, acknowledged the efforts of Alhambra’s neighborhood watch groups in helping to reduce crime. Statistics reveal that Alhambra’s crime rate has been dropping steadily over the past seven years.
2.) The US Census. Census personnel explained the purpose of the US Census and how the Census will be conducted. Census workers noted that the Official Census questionnaire is only ten questions asking, name, relationship, gender, age, and date of birth, race, ethnicity, and whether the respondent owns or rents his or her home. No personal information such as social security numbers, banking information, or any account information will be asked. Completing your Census form and mailing it back is the best way for you to participate in the Census. If you do not mail your form back to the Census, they will send out a Census worker to your house. Census workers will carry photo identification badges and other official government identification. Census workers will not ask to come inside your home. The City of Alhambra will have information about the census on the City of Alhambra website, cityofalhambra.org
3.) Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.). The Alhambra Fire Department is looking for participants for its upcoming C.E.R.T. classes. Members of Neighborhood Watch are invited to attend these classes which cover such topics as, fire suppression, disaster psychology, search and rescue, and dealing with the after effects of a natural disaster or terrorist act. If you are interested in taking this course, please call the Alhambra Fire Department.
4.) Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is a Los Angeles area “tip line” for people who have information about crimes to report what they know, anonymously. If the tipster’s information leads to an arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for a crime, the tipster may receive and award of up to $1000. For more information on Crime Stoppers, please visit the Crime Stoppers website at lacrimestoppers.org, or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
5.) Staying In Touch With Neighborhood Watch. The Alhambra Police Department currently has over 250 registered Neighborhood Watch block captains, and over 3500 Neighborhood Watch members. Neighborhood Watch information and crime news can be found in the Around Alhambra, on the police department web pages at cityofalhambra.org, and the department’s Facebook pages. Electronic crime alerts can also be sent to neighborhood watch members e-mails and to their cell phones as text messages, through the Nixle service. For more information or to subscribe to Nixle, please visit nixle.com. All neighborhood watchers are encouraged to share their e-mail address with the Alhambra Police Department Crime Prevention Office for monthly neighborhood watch news and crime alerts.
CARWASH
The Alhambra Police Department is hosting a carwash
to benefit
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - RELAY FOR LIFE
When: Saturday, March 27, 2010 / 10:00AM to 3:00PM
Where: Alhambra Police Department Parking Lot
211 S. First Street
$8.00
($5.00 Pre purchase)
(Pre-purchase carwash tickets may be purchased from the Alhambra Police Department at the discounted rate of $5.00 prior to March 27, 2010.)
Thank you for your support!
Hope to See You There!
The Alhambra Police Department Crime Prevention Connection
is brought to you by
The Alhambra Police Department
Crime Prevention Office
211 S. First Street
Alhambra, CA 91801
JIM HUDSON
Chief of Police
Sharon Frasca-Williams, CPS
Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
EMERGENCY 9-1-1
Non-Emergency and Calls for Service
(626) 570-5151
Crime Prevention Office
Monday - Thursday
(626) 570-5177
