Businesses Discuss Crime Prevention

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Chamber of Commerce provides connectivity to other businesses. We are here to help and support you in the good times and the bad times.”

Held in the Maple Room at The Centre, the meeting was also attended by City Manager Thaddeus McCormack, by Mayor Steve Croft and by City Councilman Ariel Pe.

“By joining this crime prevention program, Lakewood business owners and managers [received] tips and education on immediate strategies to safeguard their businesses and enjoy networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs,” said McCormack.

Specific topics discussed in the meeting by businesses in attendance dealt with homeless issues, and uptake in crime sprees, vandalism and the need for more patrol checks.

Businesses were advised to please ask for a Letter of Agency that would not only allow a business to put up a No Trespassing Sign, but it will also allow the Sheriff’s Department to remove any type of trespassers from a property, said Sgt. Gekas. “Crime in the City is up, but not significantly,” he said. There are some hot spots out there, but mostly on the outskirts of the City, he added.

Sgt. Gekas also encourages all business to call the Sheriff’s Department’s non-emergency number at (562) 623-3500 day or night when they feel something isn’t right. “When something or someone is making you feel uncomfortable, or they’re suspicious, call us and tell us,” he said. “You can call and say, I need patrol checks and these times. We want the business community that you can call and make these requests, that’s what we’re here for.”

Joe Ung, owner of Cassidy’s Corner, has had several break-ins over the last eight years, including a few weeks ago. Ung said he would like the Sheriff’s and the City to implement a See Something, Say Something Program. “It happened three months ago, and again a few weeks ago,” Ung said. “The thing is that they go in and out in less than a minute. They’re not looking for material things, they’re looking for cash, and it looks like the same group of kids.

The Sheriff’s response has always been great, I have no complaints about that, but as a business owner, we would appreciate some type of program that would help us cover the costs of recovery efforts.” Crime prevention options discussed included leaving the lights on at night and metal gates. While neither is appealing, they could serve as deterrents, said Sgt. Gekas. “Especially the leaving the lights on at night,” he said. “A lot of these criminals prefer to move around in the cover of darkness. Could it be effective, yes, or they could think that someone is inside working, which could deter them.”

Josh Yordt, Director of Public Safety, encourages all business owners and residents to download the Lakewood Connect Application so that they can easily make reports directly to the Sheriff’s and to the City. On the app, people can report graffiti, vandalism, homeless activity, illegal street vendor activity, and much more.

Mayor Croft said that he’s looking forward to furthering the conversations between

Lakewood businesses and the City. “In Southern California, there are always evolving challenges to public safety,” he said. “But in Lakewood we continually look for ways to meet those challenges and remain one of the safest communities in our region.”

Themed the “Top 5 Things You Need to Know to Keep Your Biz Safe,” the next Crime Prevention Meeting will take place on March 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Maple Room at the Centre.