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Fri, Apr

Do Headlines Predict the Future?

LOS ANGELES

RANTZ & RAVEZ--From time to time, it is interesting to review recent HEADLINES and examine where we are going as a society. 

The following Local and National HEADLINES are presented for your consideration.   

3 Young Children found Stabbed to Death in Reseda: Mother taken into custody. 

1 Dead and 6 Wounded in Texas shooting. 

Bloody Murder of innocent 64-year-old Riverside Woman Walking Dog. 

Suspect Charged in Monterey Park Double Homicide at Asian Restaurant.   

45 law enforcement officers shot, 11 fatally by gunfire, 13 shot in ambush attacks in first two months of 2021: per national police group. 

Shootings Increase in L.A. in 2021 compared with 2020. 

LAPD investigating 5 police shootings in 4 days.  Number is highly unusual. 

LAPD shooting outside Olympic station adds to striking cluster of police shootings since last week.  

Desk Officer was attacked with his own gun at the LAPD’s Harbor Community Station in San Pedro after opening the station’s locked door to a man. 

A Year like no other for L.A.  Crime:  Homicides surge. 

Man Shot to Death in Redondo Beach; Police arrest One Suspect, Search for Second. 

Bloody Machete Murder by Felon Just Days After Prison Release.  Hacked-up Woman Victim was 65. 

Shooter in Orange to be Arraigned Friday; Family IDs Victims. 

LA council overrides mayor’s veto of plan reinvesting LAPD funds into community-with tweaks. 

Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez spearheaded an effort to take nearly $89 million from the LAPD and redirect it to underserved communities.  

Bloody 100 – Year – Old Man Murdered in Encino House?  Ax, Knife, Slashed Suspect. 

Metro train operator shot at Metro station in East LA; $35k reward offered. 

Seattle on life support.  It’s so bad and is about to hit rock bottom. 

An Occupied Portland ICE building set afire by left-wing extremists.  

When examine crime headlines in the Los Angeles region and beyond, it should alert you to the hazards we are all exposed to in America.  As the saying goes, knowledge is power, and power can save your life and that of your family and friends.  Be Alert and Aware and always be Cautious of the hazards of living in a major metropolitan city like Los Angeles…. 

**To the RantZ and RaveZ critics that think they know it all and that all is good in and around your Los Angeles neighborhood**  

I encourage you to wake up and get a reality check.  Take the time to drive around your commercial and residential neighborhoods and look at the sights.  Are there more “For Sale, Lease and For Rent” signs posted on commercial buildings?  If so, that is a sign that things may not be as Rosey as you once thought.  

Are there homeless camps tucked in and around your neighborhood?   Are your neighbors working with others in your community, keeping an eye on illegal activities and reporting the incidents to the police?  Are you aware who your Senior Lead Officer is in your area?  If not, you can rectify that by getting in touch with them at your local police station.  They are the problem solvers in your community.  It is up to you to keep you and your neighborhood safe by working with your local police officers.  The police track all problems and crimes by crime reports that are generated by those who report the crimes. If you fail to report the crimes in your neighborhood, the police have no idea where crimes are occurring.  I know this is basic information to many of you.  Try working with your Senior Lead Officers and you will be impressed at how problems can be solved and neighborhood safety and living conditions can be improved. 

The LAPD recently changed the policy of responding to and reporting various crimes.  “The Community Online Reporting System” has been implemented.  Units will not respond to various calls for service.  The following incidents can only be reported by the victim via a computer.  

Minor Traffic Collisions, Hit and Runs, Theft, Vandalism, Lost Property and Harassing Phone Calls.  This list will likely be expanded in the future.  

The contact to report crimes is:  lapdonline.org.     

 

       If you own a car, watch out for the Catalytic Converter Thief.

 

There has been a huge increase in thefts of Catalytic Converters from vehicles in the Southern California area.  The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept reports that in 2019 there were 741 reports of Converters being stolen.  In 2020 that number increased to 2,767.  The LAPD reported that there were over 3,000 reports of Converters stolen in 2020. 

Toyota Prius is a favorite target for many thieves.  Replacement converters are very expensive.  Use caution where you park your vehicle and think about purchasing an after- market device to protect yours from being stolen.  Internal combustion engines use the Catalytic Converter to reduce pollution.  The internal parts of the Converters bring a good price when sold to local crooks.    

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón is neglecting his sworn duty to prosecute Criminals throughout Los Angeles County. 

Newly elected L.A. District Attorney George Gascón has demonstrated that he does not care about the victims of crime and is out to turn the Criminal Justice System upside down.  If you have followed any of the recent media reports, you would have learned that Gascón is against prosecuting most criminals to the extent allowable under the law.  There is a recall underway to remove Gascón from continuing to destroy public safety in L. A. County.  More to come on this in future RantZ and RaveZ.  Information is available at www.RecallGeorgeGascón.com      

 

(Dennis P. Zine is a former and retired LAPD Supervisor, former and retired 12-year Los Angeles City Councilman and current General Manager at Bell Canyon in Ventura County.)

-cw