Weekly Tip - In Town for the Rose Bowl or Rose Parade?

Visitors in town for the parade or big game?  Have a friend staying at one of our local hotels?  Nixle is a great resource for those living in town or visitors to the area. The two major agencies responsible for Tournament of Roses activity both have Nixle accounts and share valuable safety information with the public. The Pasadena Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, along with other local police agencies like Arcadia, Burbank, and South Pasadena, all use the Nixle platform for instant messaging.

We would like to encourage everyone, including those visiting the area, to take advantage of these services and subscribe to local public safety before the need arises.

A simple method to subscribe for Nixle alerts regarding the Parade or Rose Bowl is to text "ROSEPARADE" to 888777. For those in Arcadia, text either 91006 or 91007 to 888777 and you will be included in any emergency alerts sent by APD.  Check with your host or concierge for the local zip code for your area hotel in neighboring cities to be included in other area alerts.

You can also download our smart phone app for links to other information and services from the Arcadia Police Department.

Merry Christmas 2018!

Merry Christmas to All! From Our House to Yours!

Holiday Hours for APD Records Section and Front Counter

The Arcadia Police Department Records Section will close at 6:00 p.m. on both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, remaining closed on Christmas Day. The front counter will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on New Years Day. 

The Records Section will reopen at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 26, 2018, and again on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, following the respective holidays.

Weekly Activity Highlights for December 9 - 15, 2018

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=18307

Weekly Tip - Last Minute Shopping? Here are Tips to Stay Safe!

Our personal safety is something that we should always be considering, especially when out in public. The shopping season is in full swing and our shopping centers will be packed these last days before Christmas Here are some tips and thoughts on steps you can take to help maintain your personal safety:

•Awareness & Avoidance - Not enough can be said for being aware of your surroundings. It does not matter where you are, at home, out shopping, driving, at the park, DO NOT settle into a fog and become so involved in your task that you fail to look around. Scan the area before you head out. Look around and see what potential threats may be looming. Are there suspicious persons parked by your car? Is there a car approaching slowly from behind? If you see something that makes you suspicious or uncomfortable, walk away, return to the store, and report the activity and your observations to security or store staff.

•Be a Good Witness - If you see a crime or fall victim, be the best witness you can be. Without good suspect descriptions, it is difficult for police to conduct follow-up, apprehend criminals, and hopefully, help prevent others from becoming future victims. Basic physical descriptions such as hair color and style, height, weight and build, clothing color and type, suspect vehicle description and license plate, direction of travel, are all things that a responding police officer will ask for. Try and make note of anything specific to the suspect such as tattoos, scars, piercings or perhaps damage in a particular location on a suspect vehicle.

•Consider the Stakes - If this is a property crime and you are in fear for your safety, give up the purse, the wallet, the car. Your personal well-being is much more valuable than your property. Property can be replaced, you can't. 

•Make a Scene! - Drawing attention to yourself, and more importantly, to the suspect, cannot only deter the crime but also bring forward other witnesses and possibly help. Yell, scream, use a whistle, run away...

•Don't be a Target - Walk with a purpose and look about surveying your surroundings. Carry your keys and whistle in your hand, not buried in your purse. This allows you to immediately open your vehicle or set off your car alarm if needed. Keep your purse tucked under your shoulder, not dangling down or sitting unattended in a cart.

Query the topic of personal safety online. There are many quality sites that offer additional advice and products that can bolster your safety. Best overall advice...Awareness and Avoidance!

Chief's Annual Christmas Breakfast 2018

Chief Bob Guthrie carried out a long-standing Arcadia Police Department tradition last Thursday, hosting the Chief's Annual Christmas Breakfast. The breakfast is a great event where current and former members of APD can gather to share memories and a meal prepared by the Chief and fellow police management staff. In addition to the APD family, all City employees and City staff are invited to attend, along with our elected officials.

We had a great turnout for the breakfast. A special thanks to Vons Corporation (Safeway) and Papa Cantella's for the generous donations of food for the event. Chief Guthrie is pictured (above) with Alan Todd, a Corporate Manager for Vons, who has been a supporter of the event for years. See the APD Facebook page for additional photos. 

Suspension of Overnight Parking Enforcement for the Holidays

Residents and visitors will not have to obtain temporary overnight parking permits for passenger vehicles parked on the City streets from Sunday night, December 16, 2018, through Sunday morning, January 6, 2019. This permit suspension affords the community the opportunity to entertain guests and visitors without worrying about purchasing permits during the holidays. Overnight parking enforcement will resume on Monday morning January 7, 2019.

This enforcement suspension pertains only to overnight parking restrictions for passenger vehicles between 2:30 am and 5:30 am. All other parking restrictions remain in effect and will be enforced, such as time zones, street sweeping, curb markings, etc.

If you have any questions, please contact the APD Watch Commander at (626)574-5156.

Weekly Activity Highlights for December 2 - 8, 2018

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=18273

Weekly Tip - Give Your Alarm a Check Up

Do you have an alarm on your home or business? Take the time to check your system and make sure it is in proper working order. Call your alarm monitoring company before testing the alarm system. If there is an issue with the system, get it repaired. Not only will you help avoid false alarm fees, but you will better protect your property.

The City of Arcadia requires alarm permits for all alarm systems. Information on Security Alarm Permits can be found on the City website. The permits help reduce alarm malfunctions and nuisance alarms, as well as maintaining current property owner contact information should there be an issue while you are away from your home or business.

Ring Subsidies Still Available

We had a great turn out for the Ring Subsidy Event last week! Thank you to all who took part and who are helping to protect their homes. There are still discounts available to Arcadia residents and businesses. Interested persons can email or call Sr. Management Analyst Jennifer Brutus for additional information at jbrutus@ArcadiaCA.gov or 626.574.5136. Required forms and requirements can be found HERE.

Weekly Activity Highlights for November 25 - December 1, 2018

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=18227

Weekly Tip - Help Prevent Crime by Reporting Suspicious Activity

The Arcadia Police Department serves a population of approximately 57,000+ residents, numerous business and commercial locations, all within about 11 square miles. More often than not, residents and visitors serve as the eyes and ears for our Dispatchers and Police Officers.

Having a large residential community, it is not surprising that some of our most frequent calls for service involve property theft or residential burglary. In most cases, a residential burglary begins with some type of suspicious activity within a neighborhood, often in broad daylight. This activity may range from unknown persons in vehicles perusing the area, to individuals going door to door, determining whether or not residents are home. These individuals will most likely have a driver waiting for them for a quick getaway in case someone begins to question their actions.

The best way to decrease residential burglaries is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Give criminals the message if they are in our neighborhoods, and about to commit a crime, they are being watched – not ignored – through a joint effort by our residents and the police department. 

If you witness suspicious activity in your neighborhood or see something that doesn't sit right with you, do not simply draw the blinds and turn away; please pick up the phone and call our department’s non-emergency dispatch number at (626) 574-5123 – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Of course, if you witness a crime in progress or have an emergency, always remember to dial 9-1-1.

Neighborhood crime prevention neither begins nor ends, with a burning porch light. As members of a greater community, we are all responsible for its protection, as safety does not simply end at a property line. Get to know your neighbors and your neighborhood, remain alert, and never hesitate to call our police department. Do not simply assume someone else has called the police - three calls received are better than no calls at all.