Crime is something we all live with.  No level of enforcement will ever totally rid our neighborhoods of all crime.  However, there are steps we can take to reduce these crime levels to a minimum and make our neighborhoods safe for all.

Over the last few months, we have seen an increase in the theft of gasoline from parked vehicles.  With gasoline rising above $5.00 per gallon at times, this crime increase is not surprising.  During the 1973 Oil Crisis, when the retail price of a gallon of gasoline rose from a national average of 38.5 cents in May 1973 to 55.1 cents in June 1974, the incidents of gas thefts rose significantly.  As was true then, the best means of protection is simply to buy a locking gas cap.  These can be purchased for as little as $10-$15.

As for safety at home, installing lighting and removing tall shrubbery from the front of residences will make these homes less appealing to the potential burglar.  Finally, when returning home (especially at night), collect all of your belongings before exiting your vehicle and then walk immediately into your house.  Also, lock your car doors.  Although this seems like common sense, there are numerous examples of vehicle burglaries that occur simply because individuals forget to lock their car doors.  Although the chances of something actually occurring are small, these steps will always increase your safety.

Crime trend analysis is a common technique that is used to predict future increases or decreases of crime occurrences within specific areas.  In other words, by looking back at how crime has increased or decreased in a certain area, we are able to predict how crime will change in the future.  While numerous factors can be included in this analysis, such as economic, demographic and other factors, our analysis is mainly based on strict historical crime data for your area.

When we look at crime in your local community, we mainly focus on three major categories, which include: burglary, robbery and auto theft.  While there are other crimes that occur in your neighborhoods, such as graffiti, trespassing, etc., the three categories mentioned above are nationally recognized crime categories that give us a good overall picture of crime in your area.

For purposes of this discussion, we are defining the central Garden Grove area as that area bordered by Chapman Avenue, Brookhurst Street, Garden Grove Boulevard and Magnolia Street.  If you reside in another area of the City and would like more information on your specific community, please contact the Crime Prevention Unit of the Garden Grove Police Department at (714) 741-5761 or 5762, or you can email them at CrimePrevention@ci.garden-grove.ca.us.  

AUTO THEFT                            
         JANUARY    FEBRUARY    MARCH    APRIL    MAY    JUNE    JULY    TOTAL
2007    0                2                4            4           2        0        3        15
2008    2                5                2            0           2        2        3        16
                                
COMMERCIAL BURGLARY                        
        JANUARY    FEBRUARY    MARCH    APRIL    MAY    JUNE    JULY    
2007    1                2                0            1          2        1        2          9
2008    4                0                2            0          1        2        1        10
                                
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY                        
         JANUARY    FEBRUARY    MARCH    APRIL    MAY    JUNE    JULY    
2007    6                3                2            3          2        3        1        20
2008    3                0                1            2          3        3        3        15
                                
VEHICLE BURGLARY                        
         JANUARY    FEBRUARY    MARCH    APRIL    MAY    JUNE    JULY    
2007    0                5                0            2          3        3        2        15
2008    5                3                4            1          5        2        1        21
                                
ROBBERY                            
         JANUARY    FEBRUARY    MARCH    APRIL    MAY    JUNE    JULY    
2007    1                0                1            1          2        0        0        5
2008    0                1                1            3          0        3        0        8

Looking at crime data for your neighborhood, we can see that auto thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies have changed very little when comparing the same periods for the last two years.  On the positive side is the fact that residential burglaries have decreased 25%.  However, vehicle burglaries have risen.  While many of these occur in the shopping centers, you still need to be sure and secure your vehicles in the residential neighborhoods.

In closing, I would like to mention the great job that many of you do on a regular basis to deter crime in your neighborhood.  As has been proven in numerous studies on crime control, police cannot protect your neighborhoods alone.  It takes the combined effort of both the police department, as well as the residents of a neighborhood, to combat and reduce crime.  Together, we can make our neighborhoods safe for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.  Take care and be safe in all you do!

For more details on some of the programs the Department currently participates in, you can view the Police Department’s Crime Prevention website at http://www.ci.garden-grove.ca.us/?q=police/crimeprevention.