Full Notification

City of Lynwood Press Release

City of Lynwood and Century Sheriff’s Station
Host Vehicle Theft Prevention Workshop for Community
June 8, 2013, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke/John D. Ham Park located at
11832 Atlantic Ave., Lynwood, CA 90262

LYNWOOD, CA – It’s 5:30 a.m. on a weekday and Century Sheriff’s Station Captain Joseph Gooden hears the 911 call over the radio from a Lynwood resident reporting that someone had stolen her vehicle while she was warming it up and she was inside her home getting ready to go to work. It’s a crime of opportunity that’s happening all too often and it needs to be stopped.

Vehicle owners in the City of Lynwood and from neighboring community are invited to participate in a groundbreaking vehicle theft prevention community workshop entitled “Protect Your Car,” where vehicle owners can learn how not to become a victim of auto theft. Crafted by the Century Sheriff’s Station and by the City of Lynwood, this community workshop will be taking place on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Yvonne Burke/Ham Park.

Captain Gooden and the Century Sheriff’s Station have been on high alert regarding auto thefts throughout the City since the beginning of the year. While the numbers look like they may be trending downward, the statistics of auto thefts for 2013 are close to surpassing the numbers from 2012. In 2012, there were 520 auto thefts reported. This number represented a 12 percent increase from 2011 auto theft numbers. Between January and June 2013, there have been 220 auto thefts reported – a number that Captain Gooden is not happy with at all.

“The numbers have been alarming,” said Captain Gooden. “Even though the numbers look like they’re leveling off, and our efforts are working, it’s still not good enough. We need to do more.”

This community workshop is a new way of reaching out to the public about keeping their vehicles and personal property safe from theft; it’s the Sheriff’s Department, the City of Lynwood and the community taking a proactive approach to auto thefts, rather than filling out police reports and being reactive after a crime occurs, said Gooden.

In the last year, Captain Gooden has seen rapid decreases in other crimes throughout the City of Lynwood. In fact, Captain Gooden is happy to report that crimes in the City of Lynwood are at an all-time, historic low. The escalating numbers in vehicle thefts taking place every single weekend here have him and the rest of the Sheriff’s Department, along with City Officials, on high alert. Captain Gooden said that he hopes this community workshop will put the community on high alert too and let them know that the Sheriff’s Department needs their help in putting a stop to auto thefts.

Lt. Ernie Chavez of the Century Sheriff’s Station warns vehicle owners to make things harder for opportunists to target your vehicle, and to be watchful of opportunists scoping out neighborhoods for vehicles to steal or break into, especially owners of early ‘90s Hondas or Nissans. Statistics show that a vehicle is stolen in the U.S. every 43 seconds. What do most opportunists look for first? They will seek out the easiest targets, and vehicles with the windows cracked open are first on the list.

“Professional thieves can steal any car, but make them work for yours,” states a report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau titled, “The Layered Approach to Protection.” “The more layers of protection on your vehicle, the more difficult it is to steal.”

Not only should people use commonsense to protect their vehicles and personal property, like locking their vehicles at night, or not leaving the keys in the ignition, but vehicle owners are also advised to not leave their windows cracked open, even if it’s during the summer. Vehicle owners are also advised to invest in: visible or audible alarm devices, steering column collars, brake locks, or even theft deterrent decals. Vehicle owners can also invest in smart keys, fuse cut-offs, kill switches and even a tracking device. Tracking devices are very effective in assisting authorities recover stolen vehicles.

Attendees of the Saturday, June 8, 2013 Auto Theft Prevention Community Workshop will be treated to different presentations by the Century Sheriff’s Department on ways to prevent auto theft or from being a victim of a crime of opportunity. There will also be a special presentation by Sgt.Tina Jones entitled, “Crime Prevention Tips for Senior Citizens.” There will be displays of anti-theft devices, questions and answers sessions and a presentation by the Century Sheriff’s Station’s TRAP (Taskforce for Regional Auto Theft Prevention) Unit.

“We’re doing everything we can on our end, but we need the community’s help,” said Captain Gooden. “We’re hoping that the community will want to come out and learn how they can protect their own vehicles and personal property. These criminals are looking for the slightest window of opportunity. These crimes of opportunity are not something that’s well planned out or methodical, these criminals are looking to commit a quick crime, so they are looking for a vehicle being warmed up in the morning or a vehicle with the windows cracked open.”

Yvonne Brathwaite Burke/John D. Ham Park is located at 11832 Atlantic Ave., Lynwood, CA 90262. For more information, call (310) 603-0220 Ext. 501.