Wilshire Park Association

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July 4th Celebration

From Frank Ciezadlo, Our Senior Lead Officer


July, 2010


I've been with LAPD for 8 years. During that time, I've worked at the following divisions: Wilshire, Southwest, Hollywood, Rampart, and Olympic. I'm fortunate to have worked the aforementioned divisions specifically as they neighbor each other. So, I have literally worked patrol for LAPD from La Cienega to Melrose Ave to 110 Fwy to Vernon Ave. That's a big chunk of Los Angeles; and it directly benefits the residents within my basic car area. Not only do I know what the issues are within Olympic Division, but more importantly, I understand the problems of the divisions surrounding our area. I believe this has helped reduce crime in your area.

 

That being said, let's talk about Wilshire Park and Basic Car 20A53. Year-to-date Part I Violent Crime is down 28.4%. We've had a total of 48 Part I Violent Crimes (Homicide, Rape, Robbery, and Aggravated Assaults) this year, that is down from 67 last year. Year-to-date Part I Property Crime is down 27.3%. We've had a total of 208 Part I Property Crimes (Burglary, Grand Theft Auto, Burglary/Theft from Motor Vehicle, and Personal/Other Theft), that is down from 286 last year. I do not think there are many Basic Cars within the City of Los Angeles that can compete with those crime reduction numbers.

 

While I am happy with our results year-to-date, there's still much work to do. My goal is to continue to work hard on reducing the number of property crimes occurring within my Basic Car area. Hopefully, we will be able to accomplish by doing the following:

 

  • Deploying undercover and bike units.
  • Ongoing dialogue with residents and officers to communicate what type of crimes are occurring and when.
  • Real-time crime analysis (within 24 hours) that allows us to deploy mission specific black and white patrol cars to the problem area.
  • Most importantly....support from citizens with my Basic Car area! 

Wilshire Park residents should be aware Burglaries and Burglary from Motor Vehicle. These two property crimes probably make up 40-50% of the crimes that occur within Wilshire Park. I think we can reduce these two crimes from happening with the following tips:

 

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES PRIMARILY OCCUR MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7A.M. AND 7P.M.  BURGLARY SUSPECTS UTILIZE VARIOUS METHODS TO GAIN ENTRY TO RESIDENCES. MANY BURGLARIES ARE CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY, WITH SUSPECTS OFTEN ENTERING HOMES THROUGH UNLOCKED WINDOWS, UNLOCKED SLIDING GLASS DOORS OR UNLOCKED GARAGE DOORS. SINCE COMMUNITY AWARENESS IS THE KEY TO PREVENTION, WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE . . . 

 

  • LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS, INCLUDING REAR AND GARAGE DOORS, BEFORE LEAVING THE RESIDENCE.
  • ENSURE THAT SLIDING GLASS DOORS HAVE STRONG WORKING LOCKS.
  • RECORD THE SERIAL NUMBERS OF YOUR ELECTRONIC AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND KEEP IN A SECURE LOCATION.
  • IF YOU OBSERVE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, CONTACT THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING 911 (EMERGENCY) OR 877-ASK-LAPD (NON-EMERGENCY).
  • PLEASE OBTAIN A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT(S)’ PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, ACTIONS, AND ANY VEHICLE DESCRIPTIONS INCLUDING LICENSE PLATES NUMBERS.
  • DO NOT CONFRONT SUSPICIOUS INDIVIDUALS.
  • IF YOU GO OUT FOR THE EVENING, TURN ON LIGHTS AND A RADIO OR TV, SO YOUR RESIDENCE APPEARS TO BE OCCUPIED.
  • BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS ABOUT LOCKING DOORS AND WINDOWS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME!!! DOUBLE CHECK!!!

 

FOR BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE, PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:

 

  • WHEN YOU SHOP AT NIGHT, PLEASE PARK IN A WELL-LIGHTED AREA.
  • KEEP ALL CAR DOORS LOCKED AND WINDOWS CLOSED WHILE IN OR OUT OF YOUR CAR.
  • LOCK YOUR PACKAGES AND GIFTS IN YOUR VEHICLE’S TRUNK.
  • DO NOT LEAVE ANY VISIBLE PACKAGES ON THE SEAT OF YOUR CAR. THIS CREATES AN
    UNNECESSARY TEMPTATION FOR THIEVES.
  • WHEN APPROACHING AND LEAVING YOUR VEHICLE BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS.
  • DO NOT APPROACH YOUR CAR ALONE IF THERE ARE SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE STANDING BY.

 

I can be reached either by my city cell phone (213) 793-0773 or e-mail: 36372@lapd.lacity.org . Personally, I prefer to be contacted by e-mail.

 

 

Best Regards,

 

Frank Ciezadlo

Senior Lead Officer, Basic Car 20A53

Olympic Division




And from a previous email Officer Ciezadlo sent last month (See our article on "Solutions for Derelict Bank-owned Properties" in the "Announcements" section of this website):

Hey Folks,
 
I've got a couple of things to touch base with you on:
 
First, August 3rd is our National Night Out fight against crime. This is a nationwide event that we participate in every year. We will gather out front of the station at 6 pm, go on a short walk together around the neighborhood, and come back to Olympic Station where there will be pizza and refreshments waiting for us. I hope many of you can make it!!!
 
Second, a new Los Angeles City ordinance sponsored by City Council President Eric Garcetti was recently passed that now compels banks and other financial lending institutions that own vacant, dilapidated and/or nuisance properties in the City of Los Angeles to keep them clean and safe.  The ordinance now makes these firms responsible for maintaining the properties as soon as they issue a notice of default.
 
I realize that many, if not most of you, receive information from community member on a fairly frequent basis concerning ill-kept properties such as these in your Basic Car areas.  The City now has a legal means to ensure that banks which have foreclosed on these properties do not allow them to become a haven for crime and disorder in our neighborhoods.  In addition to requiring banks to register their defaulted homes with the City, the ordinance also allows the City to levy a of $1,000 a day per code violation.
 
In support of this new ordinance, I would ask you to immediately report problem properties via the City's 311 hotline.  This is yet another powerful and effective tool to help us prevent blight in our communities caused by these nuisance dwellings.  I have attached to this message for your information and review an Internet link to a recent article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times which provides additional detail about this initiative.
 
 
Best Regards,
 
Frank Ciezadlo
Senior Lead Officer Basic Car 20A53
Olympic Division
213-793-0773