Lancaster residents urged to follow tips for protecting homes, autos
Common sense precautions will help make community a safer place to live
Lancaster estimates that nearly 40 percent of residential burglaries in the city recently occurred when a home had been left unlocked or with windows unsecured at the time the crime was committed. In addition, more than 60 percent of vehicles that were broken into in Lancaster showed no sign of forced entry, often involving unlocked doors or open windows.
“In order for us to keep our community safe, we must act responsibly and take the necessary safety measures to deter theft,” said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “By just taking a few extra seconds to secure your valuables, you could be protecting yourself and your family from a burglary.”
Residents can significantly reduce the chance of their home being burglarized by locking their doors and windows. Also, residents should not leave a spare key hidden in an obvious place such as under a doormat or flowerpot.
Citizens can also play a role in reducing vehicle burglaries by simply locking their vehicles and taking their keys with them, even when the vehicle is parked in a residential driveway. In addition, roll up car windows, and place all valuables out of sight, preferably in a locked trunk or glove box.
“You are an integral player in the fight against crime—so use common sense. Don’t make it easy for thieves to take advantage of you,” added Lee D’Errico, Lancaster Public Safety Manager. “Locking your home and vehicle, as well as taking a few simple safety precautions, will help us all make our community a safer place to live.”
The city of Lancaster is now accepting applications for the fourth annual Uniting Neighbors in a Team Effort (UNITE) program.
Applications for the UNITE program are available on the city’s website at www.cityoflancasterca.org/unite and must be submitted by Friday, June 14 at 5 p.m. (postmark dates will not be accepted).
The program, which aims to help build safer and stronger neighborhoods, offers residents an opportunity to propose neighborhood improvement projects and compete for the resources and funding needed to make those projects a reality.
On Saturday, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Bureau, along with numerous teams, volunteers and city of Lancaster staff will conduct a survey in a specific Lancaster neighborhood with the purpose of identifying local crime and nuisance problems.
Teams will begin the door-to-door survey around 9 a.m. and continue until they have reached out to the nearly 600 homes in the area. The area to be surveyed is 10th Street West to Beech Avenue, and Avenue I to Avenue H-8. The area was identified after analysis of call and crime volume was conducted.
Participants in Lancaster’s Youth in Government program met for the second of their three meetings recently to suggest designs for the area of the city located at Ave. 15th West, from Avenue K to Avenue J-8. The city’s Youth in Government program has been in existence for 22 years and helps high-achieving high school students build skills through a series of activities regarding city operations.
The Lancaster City Council is expected to vote on Dec. 11 on whether to appoint Cassandra D. Harvey to the council to replace Ron Smith, who was elected to the California State Assembly.
If approved, Harvey would be sworn in and take the seat that day and finish out the remainder of Smith’s term until April 2014.
She would also be the first African American woman to sit on the city’s governing body.
Harvey was nominated by Mayor R. Rex Parris.
The city of Lancaster, in collaboration with High Desert Runners and Rite Aid, is hosting a one-mile fun run/walk through downtown Lancaster. All are invited to take to the streets at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, as the trek from Lancaster City Hall down The BLVD in the Monster Mash Mile begins.
