(June 28, 2007) -- LBPD says over the past two months, an increasing number of LB restaurants, bars and fast food outlets have been victimized by commercial burglaries in which suspects forced entry into businesses after closing and removed safes, including safes that were bolted to the floor. [!]
In April, LBReport.com first reported that burglars/thieves struck a location at PCH/LB Blvd. and yanked out an ATM/safe...and fast work by LB cops foiled a second burglary in the Cherry/South St. area a few minutes later.
But there were more...in incidents that may involve separate unrelated suspects: In April alone, LBPD says areas spanning the city were hit: Bixby Knolls (3400 and 4000 blocks of Atlantic Ave.), NLB (5000 block and 5300 block of LB Blvd), ELB (2600 block Bellflower Blvd., 2900 block Clark Ave.), Central LB (100 block of west PCH, 400 block of E. PCH) and Broadway corridor (2700 block E. Broadway).
LBPD has issued an advisory, urging businesses to take some precautions [LBPD text follows]:
- Be sure the business and the area around it have adequate lighting. Keep ladders, pallets, and other items that thieves can use to gain access to rooftops secured and away from the building.
- Secure alarm boxes, phone lines and cameras to prevent wires from being cut and other tampering that prevents them from being effective.
- Be sure security cameras are in good working order (digital systems should be set to high resolution) and maintained regularly. This greatly assists law enforcement in apprehending suspects.
- Consider installing an audible alarm system and use it. Visible signs of an alarm system (placards, window stickers, etc.) are a deterrent, and a loud alarm is likely to scare of an intruder in the act.
- If your alarm is set off after hours, do not assume it is a false alarm.
- Keep all windows clear of advertising, display material and decorations, which can screen an intruder from outside view.
- Call 9-1-1 (or 562-435-6711 if calling from cellular phone) to report all suspicious activity or crimes in progress, and coordinate with nearby residences and businesses to do the same.
- Enroll your business in the Business Watch Program, which provides the Police with business owner’s after hours contact information, free business Security Assessments, and other benefits. Call (562) 570-7274 for more information.
And if you have any information about these crimes, LBPD asks you to call Corporal Jose Yarruhs of the Burglary Detail, at (562) 570-5581.