Crime prevention, El Niño discussed at first-ever State of the Stations address

The threat of seasonal thefts and El Niño rainstorms may loom large this winter, but public safety agencies are alert and ready to respond, officials assured residents Monday in La Cañada’s first-ever “State of the Stations” address.

Representatives from the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and California Highway Patrol shared with locals information about how their agencies are organized, and how they regularly collaborate to provide a coordinated response if and when local crises occur.

Speakers addressed items of topical relevance, such as the apparent increase of thefts and residential burglaries inside city limits since last December, a recent uptick of big-rig accidents on the Foothill (210) Freeway and the city’s preparedness for potential El Niño storm systems forecast for this winter.

Local residents attend the first-ever State of the Stations address at La Cañada Flintridge City Council Chambers on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015.

(Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief John Lenihan said the department’s 171 stations oversee about 315,000 responses in any given year. Their first priority, he said, is to protect lives, then property.

“Life’s always first,” he said, stressing the importance of citizens evacuating when an order is issued, so responders can focus on protecting homes instead of rescues. “Your neighbor who stays to protect his house is actually hurting your property.”

Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station Captain Bill Song shared 2015 crime stats with the audience, stating Part 1 crimes — such as thefts, burglaries and assaults — were down 6.74% from the same time last year, and 15% down from five years ago.

He attributed that, in part, to an increase in the number of directed patrols and to more residents tracking and reporting suspicious behavior through their cellphone cameras, postings on social media sites and calls to the station.

Since January, more than 30 arrests have been made related to incidents of burglary, he added.

Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station Captain Bill Song prepares notes before speaking at the first State of the Stations address on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015.

(Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Song advised residents to be on high alert for possible thefts as they head into the holiday season, recommending they keep car doors locked and make sure belongings are either stowed away or kept in sight when in a store, for example, at all times.

“There are bad guys out there looking and watching for anybody to make a mistake,” he warned.

Members of the Public Safety Commission, which requested the city hold the informational event, sat in the audience, along with some members of the public who wanted to hear more about crime prevention efforts or share things they’ve witnessed.

Retirees David and Helen Gilstrap came to share their frustration over cars speeding down Olive Lane on their way to the Angeles Crest Highway and ask sheriff’s officials what can be done about it.

“If you drive along Olive, in between Alta Canyada and La Cañada Boulevard, it’s easy to see some really bad skid marks,” Helen Gilstrap said. “Literally, the windows in our house shake sometimes because the cars are driving so fast.”

Song noted the location and assured the couple he would have deputies look into the matter. He encouraged La Cañadans not to hesitate to call his station if they have any safety concerns or might witness any suspicious people or activities in their neighborhoods.

He also recommended anyone going on vacation, or leaving their house unattended for a period of time, call the station at (818) 248-3464 to request daily vacation checks, assuring such calls were not a nuisance.

“At the Crescenta Valley Station, we can’t get enough calls,” Song said. “Please do not consider it a nuisance to call that station — that’s what we’re here for.”

After the discussion, Public Safety Commission Chair Kay Linden said commissioners wanted to provide residents with an opportunity to address specific safety concerns and learn more about what resources and organized response is available in the community.

“If we can get all the information out about who to call and where the jurisdictions are, and where sandbags are and things like that, then I think we’ve done our job,” she said.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine