Police encourage businesses to share crime info
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

The Simi Valley Police Department is urging local business owners to get involved in a Business Watch Program to help prevent business-related burglaries and other crimes.

Sgt. Jeff Dominick said the program is not a knee-jerk reaction to anything in particular but rather another idea for taking a proactive approach to community policing.

"It's a partnership between businesses and the police department," Dominick said. "If we can get everyone involved, then businesses would just be that much safer."

According to police department statistics, a total of 54 business-related crimes were reported last month, including 18 burglaries, 26 acts of petty theft, five cases of grand theft and five acts of vandalism.

Dominick said the Business Watch Program would foster a sense of cooperation between businesses and teach owners how to work together in monitoring their surroundings.

"It's similar to a neighborhood watch in getting neighborhoods together to talk about their issues and concerns," Dominick said. "We'd help do the same thing for businesses. For example, if we had a rash of burglaries in a specific business area, we could get them all together and give them ideas on how to keep them safe from crime."

The Business Watch Program provides training for local merchants and employees, sends out crime prevention brochures and information on current trends and assists in organizing business watch meetings. Some topics that could be discussed during training include employee background checks, robbery and burglary prevention, shoplifting and merchandise display.

The police department is offering free security inspections to local business owners. To arrange an inspection or for more information on how to get involved in the Business Watch Program, call the Simi Valley Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at (805) 5836276.

"Helping yourself is the best deterrence for crime," Dominick said.