Crime View For The City Of Placentia Selected Observations

September through October 2008

Please note that yearly totals for 2008 might be a bit misleading as we have not yet seen the totals for December.

Traffic collisions.

• September had 28 recorded collisions.

• October had 41 recorded collisions but this is still a decrease from last year by 12%.

• The primary collision factor was speed.

• So far this year, no traffic fatalities.

• Tip: Follow the posted speed limit.

Personal Injury collisions.

• September 2008 had 11.

• October 2008 there were 17 personal injury collisions.

• Total to date, this year is 129. This is still an improvement over last year by 8%.

• The location for these collisions are most of your major intersections. Non injury collisions took place all over the city, no particular pattern is seen.

• Tip: Before turning on the ignition to your car, focus your mind on the task of driving. Pay particular attention at intersections while driving as a lot of different things are going on at the same time as compared to driving straight down the roadway. After the intersection light changes to green for you to proceed, wait a couple of seconds to allow the red light runners to clear the intersection.

Property Damage Collisions

• September there were 17 incidents.

• October there were 24 property damage collisions.

• Compared to last year, the city is down 15%.

Hit and Run Collisions

• During September there were 7 reports.

• October there were 6 reports.

• This year the total, so far, is 69 which is 29% lower than last year.

Driving Under The Influence (DUI).

• Maybe it is the economy tanking which is doubling this statistic.

• September showed 14 arrests.

• October went up 100% to 24 arrests.

• Aside: The Placentia Police Department has just received a DUI trailer to be used to fight this type of crime.

Driving Under The Influence (DUI) Collisions

• September there were 3.

• October there were 4

• So far, this year, we are seeing a 23% increase.

• Tip: South west portion of the city has the most DUI collisions.

• Background: Fullerton and Brea has the most bars in this area. Most of the DUI problems arise from people driving into our city from other cities. Most of this driving is on our major east west streets, Orangethorpe, Chapman, and Yorba Linda Blvd.

Hazardous Cites

• The totals are down for October by about 22%. The reason might be that the police department might not have enough officers tasked for this effort.

Parking Cites Issued

• In September there were 1,346 citations while in October there were 6% less or 1,264.

Bicyclist Injured

• September shows no injuries.

• October jumped to 4 injuries. Day laborers seem to account for most of these injuries.

• Last year the total for bicycle injuries was 9. So far this year the total is up to 13.

• Tip: When you see a person on a bicycle, tell yourself to pay attention to their location and what they are doing. We are most accustomed, as drivers, to react to large car and truck vehicles. Bicycles and motorcycles seem to be invisible to a lot of drivers.

Bicycle Thefts

• This is not tracked as a separate Crime View category but it was mentioned a number of times in the last Crime View meeting.

• Bicycles are being stolen from garages as a theft of opportunity. An open garage, or side gate offers the criminal a most easy means of stealing a bicycle.

• El Dorado High School was mentioned as being a hot spot for bicycle theft (as well as backpacks).

• Tip: An unattended bicycle is often times a tempting theft if it is not secure. Lock BOTH wheels and frame to a secure device such as a bicycle rack, tree, sign post.

Homicide

• Only one this year and that was in April.

Rape

• Three total this year and one of those was in October.

Robbery

• September the number was 2.

• October the number was 7 but a number of people reported that their proposition 8 lawn signs were stolen.

• Tip: Robberies for the month of October, occurred mostly on Tuesday and Thursday from the hours of noon to midnight.

Residential Burglary

• September shows 7 reports.

• October shows 6.

• Statistics show, that for October, the crooks took the weekend off. The times of residential burglaries was Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 am to 5 pm.

• Tip: A lot of city thefts occurred from open garage doors. Lock all doors, garage doors, side gates, and windows.

Vehicular Burglary

• September shows 14 incidents.

• October shows 14 incidents.

• More than half the reports are of smashed car windows.

• Tip: Be smart and keep valuable items out of view. Some people do not lock their cars which makes this crime easy.

• Note. Received this from Lieutenant Eric Point: "I would appreciate it if you would post a warning to hide valuables (purses, cameras, money, etc.) from view and lock your vehicles when attending sporting events at local parks and schools as thieves are committing vehicle burglaries at these events by breaking windows and taking valuables left in plain view. "

Commercial Burglary

• In September there was 6 reports.

• In October there was 3.

• Aside: A recent crime has been the breaking of a glass window or door to gain entry into a business and the criminal makes off with the cash register. This occurs at night after closing. Businesses should not keep significant mounts of money in their registers but take appropriate measures to safeguard their cash at night.

 

© 2008 Placentia Neighborhood Watch