New Devonshire LAPD Captain Warns: 'Hide It, Lock It, Keep It'

Talk of property crime in Chatsworth dominated Thursday evening’s discussion at the Neighborhood Watch meeting at .  , the new LAPD Devonshire Division commander, used the meeting to introduce himself to the Chatsworth community, discuss his division’s successes and pinpoint areas of concern for next year.

Chatsworth is safer than most areas in Los Angeles with regard to violent crime, Pritcher said.  It is second-safest in L.A. overall.

“We’re in our fourth to fifth year of crime reduction,” he said.  “It’s hard to improve upon success year after year.”

Property crime is an area of concern for the Devonshire Division as well as residents who attended the meeting.

Eight-eight percent of Chatsworth’s crimes are property crimes, Pitcher said.  Many of these crimes are home burglaries and theft from motor vehicles.  Compounding the issue is the state unemployment rate, which is still above 10 percent.

“Unemployment leads to crime,” he said.

AB 109, the state's Inmate Transfer Bill, will release 14,800 low-grade offenders into the community in the next six to eight months, Pitcher said.

“We are not getting rapists and robbers. Burglars and car thieves… are to be released,” he said.

Pitcher said his division takes a systematic approach to combat crime.

“We try to predict crime,” he said.  “Analysts take a 7-day view, a 3-day view (at crime).  They look at crime maps.”

But, he stressed, community involvement is crucial to keeping the community safe.

“There is a lot of stuff you can do to help us,” he said.  “I am one person.  You are almost a quarter-million people.  You know what is important to you.  There is a lot of stuff you can do to help us.”

The community can get involved through the Community Police Advisory Board (C-PAB).  Civilian volunteers meet with Pitcher once a month to offer advice on issues of concern. 

Pitcher said reducing property crime can be as easy as removing the temptation to steal.  He said he sees valuables like laptops and iPods in cars all the time.  Thieves break in, steal them and sell them on the street.  Even a cup-holder full of change can be enough to tempt a thief, he said.

“Hide it, lock it, keep it,” he said. 

Pitcher wrapped up his talk by answering questions from the audience, the majority of which were about property crimes.

Burglars tend to avoid places that look like they have alarms, he said.  They also avoid homes that have dogs.

He said the Devonshire Division is plagued by automobile third-seat thefts.  SUVs, like Cadillac Escalades and Chevrolet Suburbans are targets.

“When they get wrecked, there is a need for parts like third seats,” he said.

Pitcher stressed that he did not want residents to be fearful in their own community.

“Not everything should make you paranoid,” he said.  “Be wary.  There are legitimate people walking in your neighborhood soliciting donations.”

Sergeant Lawrence Bavaro also fielded questions from the community.  He said cars parked on hiking trails at the east side of division are being broken into.  He told Chatswoth Patch that property crimes are the Devonshire station’s priority issue. 

“(Criminal) crews from other cities come to Chatsworth (to commit crimes),” he said.  “Jail is like college for them.” 

Mark Your Calendar for the LAPD District Meeting

The Devonshire Division District Meeting will be 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, at Shepherd of the Hills Church, 19700 Rinaldi St. Porter Ranch.

There will be detailed presentations about vice, narcotics and gang operations. there will also be free snacks and refreshments donated by local restaurants, and drawings for prizes.

For more information on the District Meeting call 818-832-0633.