Local Crime Show to Go Off the Air

Producers of “Citizens Alert,” a weekly half-hour crime prevention program on Cable Channel 6 in Ventura, will broadcast the show’s final episode March 26.

The show, a joint effort between the Ventura Police Department and Peter Kuehn Productions, debuted last July, but has become too expensive to produce, Kuehn said.

Since July, the show has featured segments on “Ventura’s Most Wanted,” domestic violence and sexual assault, plus a crime prevention tip of the week.

Co-producer Deborah Mills said the show tried to be timely and focus on topics of interest to Ventura residents. The final episode, which airs Wednesdays at 7 p.m. until March 26, will include tips from FBI Special Agent Larry Dick on what to do when a bank takeover robbery occurs.

Mills pointed out the subject matter is particularly timely, considering Friday’s bungled robbery attempt and shootout at a Bank of America branch in North Hollywood.

“We had no idea that the bank robbery on Friday was going to take place, and we cover that issue in the final show. I think that shows just how timely we are,” Mills said.

Also included in the final episode is a segment on identifying fraudulent travelers’ checks. Ventura County Sheriff’s Senior Deputy Dan Place will show merchants what they should do if someone tries to pass a fake.