LBPD North Division Commander Rudy Komisza led the forum, stating that he wanted to strengthen relationships between police and citizens.
To begin, Komisza said there were rumors that he wanted to dispel. He said that, contrary to local belief, home burglaries in the area are occurring on a less consistent basis. He mentioned that a “sore spot” that police are currently dealing with is automotive theft.
“We are experiencing an increase in auto burglary,” he said. “That is a reality.”
Komisza said he consistently meets with his criminal-analysis team to monitor crimes in the area. His recent meeting with the team found that approximately 13 cars were broken into last week in north Long Beach.
He said that car break-ins are not a crime committed by a certain demographic, however— it tends to be specific to people that may be addicted to drugs. It is a problem that runs rampant throughout the country, Komisza said that drug addiction can cause individuals to commit actions in order to satisfy said addiction.
“Addiction is tough to beat,” he said. “There are services that are available, although those that choose not to address their addiction issues have to supplement addiction problems by seeking out crimes of opportunity to sustain their habits.”
The commander explained that most crimes happen because the criminal is given a slight chance of opportunity to commit the crime. He refers to this as a “crime of opportunity.”
Komisza stressed to the audience not to leave personal items such as sunglasses, purses, money and laptop computers in parked cars.
If a potential criminal notices an item of value in the car, he or she is more likely to break in to steal it. To counter possible theft, Komisza recommends investing in anti-theft devices for the car and home. He said that motion-sensor lights installed near the driveway of a home can scare off potential criminals.
He added that putting up signs that read, “Beware of Dog” or security company signs can ward off a possible burglar.
A major point Komisza wanted to get across to the audience was to work with fellow neighbors to prevent crime of opportunities from happening.
He asked the public to open up lines of communication with each other by sharing contact information and getting to know one another.
The police force in the North Division are trying to move toward more preventive measures rather than reactive ones. Komisza believes that by having neighbors keep an eye out for one another and frequently notifying police of suspicious activity, law enforcement can stop crimes before they even happen.
“All of you are my eyes and ears to report suspicious activities,” he said.
Following the meeting, Komisza encouraged a question-and-answer session from the audience.
Most people said they felt as if there are not enough police patrols in the streets. Komisza assured the public that police cruisers were making rounds in neighborhoods and enforcing the law when necessary.
“The reality is that law enforcement is a complex profession,” he said. “We have certain tools at our disposal to positively impact crime, but we have to operate within legal parameters.”
During the Q&A session, community members shared crime-prevention tips among themselves as well. For example, a member of the audience recalled the time someone stole tools from his garage. The individual had written his personal information on the tools and was contacted immediately about his stolen items.
Komisza encourages the public to keep close relations with the police and to never hesitate to call the station. Non-emergency related issues can be discussed by calling (562) 435-6711.
