Weekly Tip - Help End Domestic Violence!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!  This October, let us honor National Domestic Violence Awareness Month by promoting peace in our own families, homes, and communities. Let us renew our commitment to end domestic violence -- in every city, every town, and every corner of America.

What is domestic violence?

• Hitting, punching, shoving, biting, using weapons
• Forced sexual activity
• Putting down, name calling, playing mind games
• Controlling of all your finances
• Stalking

If you have experienced any of the above forms of abuse, caused by a husband, boyfriend, or intimate partner, you may be a victim of domestic violence.  Call your local police department or reach out to the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Hotline (24 hours) at 800.978.3600.

HERE is a list of available shelters and walk-in centers for the greater Los Angeles County area.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/30/presidential-proclamation-national-domestic-violence-awareness-month-201

Weekly Tip - Join Us on Nextdoor: an Organic, Virtual Neighborhood Watch & more!

Interested in connecting with you neighbors, exchanging ideas and sharing information? We have a great way for you to do just that!

The City of Arcadia has a long history of encouraging neighborhood interaction and communication. We believe that knowing the people who live near us makes for stronger neighborhoods, and oftentimes results in cherished friendships. The way we communicate with our family, friends, and neighbors has changed significantly in recent years with the increasing popularity of social media. One social network you may want to take a look at is Nextdoor.com. Nextdoor.com is a private network that posters communication between neighbors. Participation is free. Discussion topics can range from information sharing to notices about local events and school activities, contractor recommendations, disaster preparedness, crime prevention, lost pets and…what would you like to talk about? Neighborhoods establish and manage their own Nextdoor website. The information shared on each Nextdoor site is visible only to the members who live in the neighborhood and have verified their address.

How does Nextdoor work?

Nextdoor allows neighbors to create a private website for their neighborhood. On Nextdoor, members can find neighbors in the directory, view a neighborhood map, ask for advice, exchange local recommendations, and share neighborhood information with each other. Residents can choose to see and respond to updates via e-mail, or only on the website.

How much does Nextdoor cost?

There is no charge for an Arcadia resident to participate in their neighborhood site.

How is Nextdoor different from a neighborhood mailing list?

Nextdoor is designed for the specific communication needs of a neighborhood. For example, Nextdoor websites include a neighborhood map and directory, and a catalogued list of recommendations for local services. Members can choose to receive e-mails about each new post, see everything in a daily digest, or turn off e-mails and check the website for new posts from neighbors.

What is the City’s involvement in Nextdoor?

The City will have the ability to post information on an Arcadia neighborhood site; however; the City cannot view discussions that take place outside of those related to the City post. Information the City will share with neighborhoods – individually or collectively – might include that relate area street projects, event announcements, crime prevention and safety tips, and emergency bulletins.

How do I get started?

Go to Nextdoor.com and put in your address to see if your neighborhood is already established. If not, define your neighborhood, invite your neighbors to the group, and get the discussion going! The website includes step-by-step instructions for getting started – it’s easy! Please note that for optimal participation and success, it is recommended that your neighborhood have between 250 and 2,500 properties.

If you have any questions about the City’s participation in Nextdoor, please call Sgt. Tom Le Veque at 626.574.5163, or Linda Garcia, Special Projects Manager, at 626.574.5401.

 https://nextdoor.com/

Follow Nextdoor on Twitter @Nextdoor or like them on Facebook.

Weekly Activity Highlights for September 15 - 21, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_9.15.13.pdf

UPDATE: Monrovia Man Charged in Area Threats Cases - LA Co DA News Release

UPDATE: 

(News Release - Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office)

Monrovia Man Charged with Making Series of Threatening Calls

A 26-year-old man with a history of making false bomb threats was charged today with multiple counts of making criminal threats and falsely reporting an emergency, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Gerardo Cortez (dob 8-20-87) is scheduled to be arraigned sometime after 1:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Superior Court, West Covina Branch, in Department 4. Prosecutors will ask that his bail be set at $300,000.

Cortez is charged in case No. KA103202 with six counts of making criminal threats and five counts of falsely reporting an emergency. The complaint also alleges Cortez has a prior conviction of falsely reporting a bomb to an agency or business.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney with the Target Crimes Division is prosecuting the case.

Cortez allegedly made a series of threatening phone calls over several days beginning on Sept. 9 to schools, a medical center, a mall and a police agency. The calls forced searches in several communities.

Police departments of the cities of Arcadia, Covina and Monrovia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators from Temple Station, Major Crimes Bureau, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force launched a joint investigation which resulted to the suspect’s arrest.

# # #

About the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to seeking justice for victims of crime and enhancing public safety. Annually, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office prosecutes more than 60,000 felonies and 140,000 misdemeanor crimes.

  

CONTACT:

Jane Robison

Public Information Officer

Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office

Sept. 19, 2013

Original APD Post:  http://arcadiapolice.blogspot.com/2013/09/joint-agency-news-release-monrovia-man.html

Tree Trimming Distraction Burglary Warning

Tree Trimming Distraction
Date / Time: Saturday, 9/14/2013 at 2:00 pm

Location: 1000 block San Carlos Rd, Arcadia

Suspect 1: Male Hispanic Adult / 5’7” ‐ 5’9”
Unknown age

Suspect Vehicle: Ford pick up truck, 2dr, white,
standard cab, possibly a Ford
Ranger, unknown year

MO: Suspect 1 knocked on the front door and, as the visually‐impaired elderly victim opened the door, immediately stepped into the residence. The suspect said he recently purchased a house in the neighborhood and would be trimming the trees in the back yard. The suspect then walked through the house and attempted to open the rear door but was unsuccessful. As the victim asked the suspect to leave and threatened to call the police, the suspect exited the residence through the front door. The victim’s wife arrived later that day and noticed a card containing her social security card was missing and various containers and drawers had been disturbed. It is believed that Suspect 1 was distracting the victim while a second suspect stole the property within the residence. A second suspect was not seen.

If you have any information or similar instances, please contact Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574‐5150, reference case #13-4365.

Created by: Kristin Anderson, Crime Analyst

Arcadia Elks Honor Local Public Safety

The Arcadia Elks Lodge 2025 honored local police, fire, and sheriff personnel at their annual appreciation luncheon today.  In attendance were members from the Arcadia and Sierra Madre Police Departments, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - Temple Station, and the Arcadia and Sierra Madre Fire Departments. Representatives from each agency were presented with a charitable donation from the Elks during the luncheon. Chief Bob Guthrie accepted the check on behalf of APD.

We wanted to take a moment and thank the members of Lodge 2025 for the honor, the luncheon, and their continued support of each of the agencies. This is a great event that has been a long standing tradition for our local Arcadia Elks. Thanks again from the men and women of APD.

Weekly Tip - See Something, Say Something!

The Arcadia Police Department serves a population of approximately 57,000 residents, numerous business and commercial locations, all within about 11 square miles. As expected, the men and women of the department cannot actively police every square inch of our city at all times. Therefore, more often than not, residents and visitors serve as the eyes and ears for our dispatchers and 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.