First published in the March 31 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
La Cañada Flintridge has seen a slight uptick in residential burglaries and aggravated assaults in the first two months of 2022 compared to the previous year, and the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station has deployed additional deputies in the field to have more presence to stifle crimes.
Special Assignment Deputy Ashween Nand told the LCF Public Safety Commission at a meeting Monday that there was a total of 11 residential burglaries in January and February, six more than what was reported in the first two months of 2021, and four cases of aggravated assault, two more than the previous year during the same period.
“We’re going to make patrol cars more visible in the field,” Robert Hahnlein, acting captain of the CV Sheriff’s Station, told the Outlook Valley Sun Tuesday. “We’re putting the extra manpower out there just to be more visible for burglary suppression and for those smash-and-grab robberies that have been happening.”
Hahnlein added that he has asked for community-oriented policing teams to assist in the sheriff’s station’s efforts and will set up trailers in specific areas to read license plates where the Flock cameras cannot.
“That seems to be helping a lot along with the Flock system,” Hahnlein said. “We had 300 hits last year using those Flock cameras. It’s a great system in the city and has helped a lot in solving crimes.”
One of the aggravated assaults was a domestic disturbance incident in which the suspect assaulted two family members.
Another assault occurred at Chipotle on Foothill Boulevard involving two customers who got in a verbal argument that escalated into physical altercation.
A similar incident — though not reported — took place at Sakura Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood House Saturday. Videos showing a physical altercation between two families surfaced online and were distributed on social media. A man in the video was seen swinging a chair and throwing it. Hahnlein said a person was struck by a chair but refused medical treatment. A report was not filed. The manager of the restaurant did not want to comment on the altercation but said there were no damages and the people involved left the restaurant quickly.
“We have not received any further complaints about it thus far,” Hahnlein said.
Six shoplifting incidents also occurred in the first two months, two of them occurring at cell phone stores with devices being stolen, two cases at T.J. Maxx and another at Target involving stolen liquor.
LCF has seen a decline in larceny and theft cases with 31, seven less than what was reported in the first eight weeks last year.
Hahnlein encouraged residents who have any questions or concerns about crime in the area to contact him at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.
