News

Thanks to the dozen people who participated in Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association’s first Neighborhood Watch organizational meeting last night at the Hastings Ranch Library.  This is the first formal step toward helping make Brigden Ranch safer.

The meeting was held to 1) start our first formal Neighborhood Watch, 2) to explain the duties of Block Captains who are needed to organize Neighborhood Watches, 3) to seek volunteers to become Block Captains, and 4) to answer general questions about crime in our neighborhood.

Anita Butler, our representative from the Pasadena Police Department, presented information about setting up Neighborhood Watches.  Anita shared crime statistics which showed crime in Brigden Ranch has declined over the past three years.  Anita stressed that we have a safe neighborhood with very little crime.  The Sergeant from the Central Service Area, which Brigden Ranch is part of, dropped by and repeated this message.  He encourage the start of Neighborhood Watches as a great way for neighbors to look after neighbors, and as a way of staying vigilant.

The first formal step in creating a Neighborhood Watch is for a person to volunteer to be a Block Captain.  The Block Captain organizes a group of their neighbors, works with the police department to set up an organizational meeting like last night’s, creates phone trees, and keeps the Neighborhood Watch active.  Each Neighborhood Watch is about eight to 12 homes, depending on how many the Block Captain is comfortable with.

This isn’t a lot of work, but the rewards are a safer neighborhood for all of us.  I would encourage anyone who wants more information to contact me in order to set up an organizational meeting in your neighborhood.

The first formal Neighborhood Watch was started last night in the 2200 block of Casa Grande.  Craig Valenzuela is the Block Captain.  Anyone in that area who is interested should contact Craig at cval33440@sbcglobal.net

We want to formally thank Craig for taking this on.

If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain for another block on Casa Grande, or another street, please let me know.  One other individual in the 2000 block of Galbreth has volunteered to be a Block Captain.  Neighbors there will be contacted shortly.

During the past three weeks there have been two home burglaries, an attempted burglary, and three thefts from automobiles on Brigden Road.

The burglars hit homes where there were no cars in the driveway and it appeared no one was home.

A laptop and some miscellaneous items were stolen from one home in the 2200 block about three weeks ago.

At another home in the 2200 block, neighbor Donn Dufford saw the burglars and frightened them off. Donn has been working with Pasadena Police detectives to identify one of the burglars.

As of June 18, arrests had been made in Altadena by Sherriff’s officer. Pasadena Police believe they are the same boys who committed the Brigden burglaries.

This week, a laptop, some currency from a coin bank, and a wallet were stolen between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of Brigden. The thief or thieves preyed open a door know lock on a side door to gain entrance.

Two weeks ago, someone stole catalytic converters from two Toyota automobiles and attempted to steal a third, but may have been frightened off.

In the case of the catalytic converters, they are easy to quickly take from under the car, and have been a hot item in L.A. County for several months. Thieves take the platinum out of them and sell them to scrap dealers for about $50 each. Unfortunately for the owner of the auto, they have to pay about $1,100 for a new one.

It appears the auto thefts have occurred between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. in homeowners’ driveways.

On June 23, there reportedly was a vehicle burglary on Brigden Rd. around 7:23 a.m. The vehicle was parked in the driveway. Unknown suspect opened the door by unknown means (which means the door may have been left unlocked). Once inside, the suspect removed the loss $1.00 in currency. No one was seen or heard. (The address does not match Brigden Road addresses, so we’re not sure about this one.)
I would guess the burglaries are Marshall High School kids looking for quick cash or items they could use or sell (that’s what police have told us is common). Also they were probably kids because they only hit one house at a time and took little. If the car burglars were pros, they would have hit several cars.

What the police have told us is that the kids are starting to steal because their parents can’t afford and aren’t buying them the expensive games, phones, ipods, and such now that the economy has turned down. So the kids are stealing what they need (laptops) and what they can sell for some quick cash.

RECOMMENDATION: Take precautions to lock all doors and windows, even if you’re leaving for a short period. Let your neighbors know if you’re not home. Put your cars in secure locations. All of the cars being hit are Toyotas, with the 4Runner being the easiest to slide under, unbolt the converter, and leave off.

NOTE: The police have constantly told us the BRN area is very safe. They get very few calls from here. Vigilance is the key.

With the economy, it seems to be our turn to be hit.

Your BRNA Board is developing an Emergency Preparedness/Neighborhood Watch program. You’ll be hearing about it soon.

Anyone interested in participating, please send a note to info@brigdenranch.org.

Welcome to the new website of the Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association. We’ll be using this space to update you on the latest news and events concerning our neighborhood.

Your questions, comments or contributions are welcome. Write us at brigdenranch@gmail.com.