Westlake City Council hears crime report

At the Westlake Village City Council meeting last week, Officer Robert Desantis delivered a report of mostly good news for residents.

There were no commercial burglaries in January, he said, adding, "This is a good sign."

From the report, it appears that vehicles are still the most popular targets of burglars. One incident involved the theft of a locked car and there were five burglaries involving locked vehicles in the city of Westlake Village.

Residents are protected by the Westlake Village Volunteer Patrol (WVVP). Lead volunteer Robert Benton spoke at last week’s meeting to inform the council about the program’s goals and purposes.

With nine volunteers so far, "We are still in the embryo stage," said Benton. WVVP is seeking more volunteers and is educating the public on programs like Neighborhood Watch, he said.

Benton and other volunteers help with traffic and pedestrian patrols when they’re needed. They also conduct vacation patrols.

"If a resident is planning a vacation, they can contact the sheriff department who will then deploy a volunteer to watch that home," Benton said. "We check for things such as newspapers piling up or garage doors being opened."

Residents who are out of town can feel more secure knowing that a volunteer patrol will report any suspicious activity involving their homes.

WVVP is starting a training program for new volunteers next month, hoping for more trainees.

If you’re interested in volunteering for WVVP, please call Lost Hills Sheriff Station at (818) 878-1808.

—Lori Porter