Crime Statistics
We are happy to inform that Duarte remains as one of the safest City in the San Gabriel Valley. This is in part due to the proactive LA County Sheriff Deputies assigned to Duarte and their hard work and dedication . Deputies made 872 arrests in 2010, 1,261 arrests in 2011, and an even higher number of arrests in 2012 with 1,286. However, the safety of our neighborhood is also due to the close knit community. Specially our proactive Neighborhood Watch volunteers which are the most important part in our crime prevention efforts, specifically when it comes to property crimes. Remember the real crime prevention starts at home. We ask that you stay focused into 2013, keep your eyes and ears open, and continue to actively prevent crime. The cost of crime is more than what we as a City can bear.
Although Duarte's crime levels tend to be lower than the average level in our area, a nearly 3% increase in property crime was recorded in 2012. Crime can happen quickly please take precautions. Remember to lock your doors and windows when you leave your home. Also, lock your car whenever you park it. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity and thieves look for the path of least resistance. Securing your valuables and your home does work. Please continue to look after your neighbors and your neighborhood. Especially during the day time hours. Most of the residential burglaries occur during the day time. The most common point of entry is through a rear door or window. Again make sure that your home is secure.
We have also continued to educate the public through Neighborhood Watch about the City of Duarte Municipal Code section 5.16.020, "No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of peddler, solicitor, or canvasser, without first applying for and receiving a permit from the Director of Finance." If you come in contact with a solicitor immediately call the Public Safety Department and verify their permit at (626) 357-7938, if after business hours please contact the Temple Sheriff Station at (626) 285-7171. Animal Control & Code Enforcement Officers are on-duty Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
In order to continue to offer the utmost service despite budget cuts, the Duarte Public Safety Department, also obtained a grant from the state of California to fund the Special Assignment Team and return a Deputy that was set to be eliminated on January 1, 2013. This 2 year grant will also enable us to continue providing LA County Probation specialized prevention services K-8th and supplement our Youth Programs and After School Programs that help make our community safe for our youth.
In closing, we would like to remind residents that it is never too late to be prepared for natural disasters or other emergencies. Please take the take this time to prepare your homes and your families. There are numerous websites that can help you get started. Visit www.ready.gov
We all hope to never face an emergency but just remember “it’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Director of Public Safety, Brian Villalobos
Year to Date Snapshot
Reported Residential Burglaries
Please stay alert and if you see something, say something! Do not become a victim and follow these important Residential Burglary Prevention Tips.
January 2013: 2 Burglaries
1300 Block of Elmhurst Ave. Area 7
On Tuesday, January 15, 2013 between 7:30 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. while the occupants were away from the home, an unknown person(s) entered the home by kicking in the front door. Among items reported stolen were miscellaneous woman’s jewelry (earrings, necklaces, rings) and $55 cash. There were no witnesses
1600 Block of Royal Oaks Dr. Area 1
On Monday, January 28, 2013, between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. while the occupants were away from the home, unknown person(s) entered the home through the open garage door and stole an unloaded black Ruger rifle. The rifle was not in a secure location (no safe/no trigger lock). There were no witnesses.
February 2013: 4 Burglaries & 1 Attempted burglary
3200 Block of Hacienda Dr. Area 11
Between 9:00 p.m. Saturday, February 2, and 6:00 a.m. Sunday, February 3, 2013, while the resident was at home sleeping, unknown person(s) entered the home through the home through an unlocked rear sliding glass door and stole a laptop computer, black leather wallet with personal information, credit cards and $200. There were no witnesses.
2100 Block of Buena Vista St. Area 4
On Monday, February 11, between 6:00 a.m. and 3:50p.m. while the resident(s) were away from the home unknown person(s) entered the home through an unlocked side door and kicked in two locked bedroom doors. Burglar(s) stole a laptop computer, and Playstation 3 and a television.
800 Block of Beckville St. Area 4
On Tuesday, February 19, between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. while the resident(s) were away from the home unknown person(s) entered the home after shattering a bedroom window and stole a laptop computer, a Louis Vuitton bag, and a pearl necklace.
2600 Block of Sunnydale Dr. Area 9
On Friday, February 22, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:15 p.m. the while the resident(s) were away from the home, unknown person(s) entered the home after breaking the front door. No items were reported missing at the time the report was taken, however the house was ransacked.
1 Attempted burglary
100 Block of Cedarwood Ave. Area 9
On Friday, February 22, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. while the resident(s) were away from the home, unknown person(s) broke the front door. No entrance appeared to be made into the home.
March 2013: 5 Burglaries & 1 Attempted burglary
300 Block of Spinks Canyon Rd. Area 8
On Friday, March 1, in the morning hours while the residents were away from home three suspects left the home in a vehicle. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s patrol deputies located the vehicle on the 605 freeway in Whittier. A pursuit was initiated and travelled northbound on the 605 freeway, to westbound on the 60 freeway. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) was notified and the pursuit was turned over to the CHP in the area of westbound 60 freeway at the 101 freeway. The CHP pursued the suspects through various areas of Los Angeles. The pursuit terminated at 71st Street and Broadway in Los Angeles, where the three suspects fled on foot. CHP, Los Angeles School Police and Los Angeles Police Department officers captured the three suspects. All three suspects are African America and identified as South Central Gang members, 26-year old Keitra Penn, 22-year old Mario Gibson, 18-year old Robert Leroy, were booked at Temple Sheriff’s Station on charges of Residential Burglary and Evading Law Enforcement and were held in lieu of $50,000 bail. All of the victim’s possessions were recovered.
3300 Block of Elda St. Area 9
Between 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 8:00 a.m. Monday, March 11, while the owner was away from the vacant rental home, unknown person(s) entered the home through an unlocked garage door and ransacked the garage, they were not able to gain access to the home due to the alarm system, no items were stolen. There were no witnesses. It should be noted that the last tenants were recently evicted and are suspects for this burglary.
1000 Block of Chimes Ave. Area 6
On Tuesday, March 26, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., while the owner was in the home, unknown person(s) entered the locked detached garage door by picking the lock and attempted to open a gun safe unsuccessfully, no items were stolen. There were no witnesses.
2600 Block of Fernley Dr. Area 7
On Tuesday, March 26, Between 5:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., while the owner was away from the home, unknown person(s) entered the home after prying open a side bedroom locked window and stole miscellaneous jewelry. There were no witnesses.
2400 Block of Maynard Dr. Area 7
On Wednesday, March 27, Between 7:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., while the owner was away from the home, unknown person(s) entered the home after prying open a front bedroom locked window and stole Ipod Touch. There were no witnesses.
1 Attempted burglary
1400 Block of Santo Domingo St. Area 7
On Friday, February 22, between 7:30 a.m. and 6:50 p.m. while the resident(s) were away from the home, unknown person(s) attempted to pry the front door open. No entrance appeared to be made into the home. There were no witnesses.
April 2013: 4 Burglaries
1100 Block of Calle Linares Area 10
On Tuesday, April 2, between 8:30 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. while the resident(s) were away from the home, unknown person(s) entered the home through an open window after removing the window screen and stole 2 diamons/platinum rings, 1 diamond/platinum necklace, 1 diamond/platinum bracelet, a Louis Vuitton handbag, 2 Louis Vuitoon wallets, 1 Guess watch, and an 8GB Ipad. The home did not have an alarm syste, the owners yorkshire terrier dog was inside the home during the burglary. There were no witnesses.
1500 Block of Broadland Ave. Area 3
On Thursday, April 4, at 9:00 p.m., while the resident was at home, noises were heard near the backfoor and the resident went back to check. The resident was able to spot two suspects as they fled the home, both male Hispanics, uknown persons. Suspects ran to an awaiting car described as a Black Nissan Sentra, where a third suspect was awating and drove then Eastbound on Evergreen Street. The suspects did not gain entry into the home and nothing was stolen.
1200 Block of Highland Ave. Area 2
On Thursday, April 4, in the morning hours, while the resident was away from home suspect(s) climbed to a second story window of an apartment complex and removed the screen and entered the home and stole cash from a drawer. The criminal circumstance of this crime is under investigation.
3400 Block of Markwood St. Area 12
On Monday, April 22, between 6:00 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. while the resident(s) were away from the home, unknown person(s) entered the home through a side garade door and kitchen door, suspect(s) used the doggy door to unlock the main door, there were no signs of force entry. The dog was not at the location. The alarm system was triggered upon the suspect(s) entereing the home, no items were stolen. There were not witnesses as the unknown suspect(s) fled the location.
