A REASON for SAFETY!!! -- 2023

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Dear Century Glen HOA Members,

It is unfortunate that the holiday season may include an increase of opportunists, targets, and victims. Just this week, we’ve been notified of three vehicle break-ins. Crime and safety are concerns within Century Glen. Because we care, here’s information and ideas that you may want to incorporate into your daily routine. Thanks for potentially assisting Century Glen’s residents and visitors by being alert and incorporating safety measures that may reduce crime. If you will volunteer as a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain, we’d like to hear from you at CenturyGlenHOA@gmail.com.

Neighborhood Watch Program: We have established a Neighborhood Watch with the support of LAPD. Additional volunteer block captains are especially needed as communication liaisons. It’s NOT time consuming. Please volunteer to help your entire block or street. The program not only serves as a crime-deterrent but also is of tremendous help to the LAPD.       

Century Glen’s LAPD Senior Lead Officer (SLO) is Ricardo Ballesteros   

email: 33652@LAPD.online.         phone: 310-444-0738.    

Should you need immediate assistance, call 911 for emergencies or 877-ASK-LAPD (877-275-5273) for all non-Emergency needs.                   

 All other City Services dial: 311 or download and use the MyLA311 app.  

If you see or hear something unsafe, first call 911, then call or email Senior Lead Officer Ballesteros, and then follow up (when safe to do so) with your Block Captain. An increase in 911 calls from a location gives key information to the LAPD for dispatch considerations.  If you notice an unknown or out of place vehicle on public streets within Century Glen, you may take a photo or video of the vehicle and its license plate (often very useful) to share with the LAPD. Please do not confront anyone or otherwise put yourself in harms way.    

Century Glen Homeowners Association has met with and listened to presentations made by local security patrol companies. Affordability and practicality are considerations in decisions about the options –from security cameras and license plate readers to patrol cars. We’re also in contact with Westfield Century City mall’s security head and local business and religious facility’s security leaders. 

Household security cameras and alarm systems. Motion Sensing Security Lights:  Motion-activated lights can be inexpensive, and some are solar powered. Please regularly check that your doors and windows are locked (home, garage, ADUs, and vehicles).  Also, stay alert and plan ahead for potential “Follow Home” and “Knock-Knock Bandit” incidents.

Neighbors may agree to watch your house, pick up your newspapers and deliveries, and take empty trash bins away from the curb whenever you’re away from home for extended periods. USPS, FedEx, and newspaper deliveries can be put on hold. Lockable mailboxes and package boxes can be useful.

Vehicle Anti-Theft:  Steering Wheel Locks (locally, we’ve found “The Club” available for purchase from ACE Hardware on Bundy north of Olympic; also, from local auto parts stores, or on-line for pick up or shipped to you.) Dash Cameras; Vehicle GPS Tracking Devices; Catalytic Converter Cages; Car Key Signal Blocker / Faraday Bags; Tire Lug Nut Locks; Pedal Locks are available and useful deterrents. Remember to remove anything of value from your vehicle. A garage door opener device left inside a car could inadvertently allow access to your garage. Whether coming or going from the garage, watch that no one else enters the garage while the gate or door is open.  Never leave your key fob inside an unattended vehicle or inside your home close to your parked vehicle because devices seem to exist to “read” some key fobs, which may have resulted in vehicle theft.

Personal Safety Devices:  Pepper spray (please first research the local laws prior to carrying or usage), battery powered hand-held sirens –these are just a couple of the devices available.

Bicycle registration:  https://bikeindex.org This is a non-profit bicycle registration service and stolen bike recovery platform. The service is simple and free to use.  Otherwise, it’s a good idea to photograph and/or keep a record of your bicycle’s serial number for identification in case of theft.

Get Informed and Involved: Annually renew membership and volunteer to assist with Century Glen’s HOA and committees. Attending HOA and Westside Neighborhood Council meetings has become so easy! Monthly on-line meetings via ZOOM or dial in from a telephone. (Except, NO MEETINGS this month of December 2022.) 

The Westside Neighborhood Council is established to serve all Stakeholders within Council District 5. Additional information at websites https://CenturyGlen.org and at http://WNCLA.org/. These websites are updated about crime and security issues. 

Block Captains:  Sheida A. (Benecia Ave. south of Olympic); Sara B. (Tennessee Ave); Patt D. Hoffen (Kerwood Ave between Louisiana Ave and Fox Hills Dr); Sara M. (Keswick Ave); Scott S. (Ilona Ave); Celeste W. (Orton Ave and Fox Hills Dr south of Olympic); Leonard W. (also Fox Hills Dr. south of Olympic); Dustin Y. (Kerwood Ave. between Olympic and Louisiana Ave). More Block Captains are welcome to participate. Please contact us and volunteer to become a Block Captain by emailing:   CenturyGlenHOA@gmail.com

Seat 10 Westside Neighborhood Council Representative:  

Galina Atencio  WNCseat10@yahoo.com.

We’d be foolish to believe that there’s such a thing as “fool-proof” security. Deterrents and remaining vigilant, however, may convince opportunists that our neighborhood is a waste of their time and energy. 

This was created by the Century Glen Homeowners Association.  Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. Approval from the Century Glen HOA Board of Directors is required prior to copying, sharing, or publishing anything herein. 

LINK -- http://www.lacp.org/2003-Articles-Main/CNAPprogram.html

Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program

The Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program (CNAP) began in 1997 and is coordinated under the supervision of the Office of the City Attorney. CNAP is a multi-agency task force, the first of its kind in the nation, charged with targeting the worst abandoned structures and nuisance properties plaguing Los Angeles neighborhoods.

CNAP is staffed by personnel from five core participating agencies: LAPD, City Attorney's Office, Department of Building and Safety, Housing Department and the Planning Department, collectively known as the Problem Property Resolution Team (PPRT).

Three of these agencies (LAPD, City Attorney's Office, and the Department of Building and Safety) had worked together since 1990 through the federal grant-funded FALCON (Focused Attack Linking Community Organizations and Neighborhoods) Narcotics Abatement Unit.

The participating agencies developed a coordinated, comprehensive approach to revitalizing buildings and neighborhoods with histories of pervasive narcotics activity. The FALCON Narcotics Abatement Unit has been integrated into CNAP.

In addition to traditional narcotics abatement cases, CNAP has developed strategies for abating other types of long- standing nuisance locations. CNAP is responsible for:

1)abating narcotics and vice nuisance activity at occupied residential and commercial locations;2)abating vacant structures, open to unauthorized entry , which are sites of drug, gang, or other criminal activity or which are fire damaged; and,3)implementing neighborhood block projects in each of the LAPD's four geographic bureaus, with efforts focused on the areas of crime reduction and prevention, physical improvements and enhancements, and community outreach.

This program's major objectives are:

1)to eliminate nuisance locations through the implementation of available remedies, including: encouraging voluntary compliance from owners; filing criminal complaints for non-compliance with Building and Safety orders or Zoning conditions; imposing conditions or revoking conditional use permits through the Zoning Administrator; filing narcotics abatement and/or red light abatement lawsuits; preparing asset forfeiture lawsuits; and demolishing vacant buildings declared public nuisances by the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners;2)to establish integrated networks of law enforcement and governmental agencies, community-based organizations and concerned citizens;3)to provide neighborhood crime prevention and education programs to residents and businesses in targeted areas; and,4)to foster community coalitions among property owners, tenants, residents and business owners.

CNAP attorneys and building inspectors helped draft a "Vacant Building Ordinance". Effective September 30, 1999, the ordinance declares both vacant and unsecured or boarded buildings public nuisances. Additionally, the ordinance creates consequences if no action is taken by a property owner to eliminate the boarded building status.

The ordinance requires property owners, once their property becomes vacant, to submit a "Statement of Intent" describing their short-term and long-term plans for the property.

The ordinance also requires owners of vacant properties to:

1)secure, clean, and fence vacant properties;2)submit and implement a maintenance agreement plan for the period the property is to remain vacant; and,3)submit a plan and timeline for the lawful I occupancy, rehabilitation or demolition of the structure. Failure to comply with the requirements of the ordinance may result in misdemeanor prosecution by CNAP attorneys and/or imposition of civil and/or administrative penalties.

CNAP uses a number of strategies to abate narcotics and other nuisances on private property. These include:

Identifying and Targeting Nuisance Locations and Identifying and Targeting Drug Offenders
LAPD reviews crime statistics and referrals to identify nuisance locations and narcotics and vice offenders.

Coordinating Multi-Agency Investigations and Formulating Long Term Solutions
Code inspectors, local police officers and specialized vice and narcotics I officers are consulted during the development of strategies for criminal and regulatory enforcement. Administrative procedures, such as boarding and fencing vacant buildings, and demolitions of nuisance buildings are enforced expeditiously to ensure that neighborhoods do not suffer the negative effects that a vacant property can generate. The Housing Department evaluates properties as well, to determine eligibility for financial assistance.

Evaluating Nuisance Remedies, Notifying Property Owners and City Attorney hearings
City attorneys and police officers examine possible remedies such as voluntary abatement, civil abatement, property seizure and forfeiture, and criminal prosecution. They determine which remedies would be most effective in abating particular nuisances. These profiles are presented to property owners at city attorney hearings.

Filing Civil and Criminal Lawsuits
City attorneys prepare abatement filings and review forfeiture cases against owners who fail to voluntarily abate nuisances at their properties. Prosecutors file criminal cases against property owners and tenants who fail to comply with orders issued by regulatory inspectors.

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CNAP Supervisory Personnel
310 / 575-8500

Mary Clare Molidor, Sr. Asst. City Attorney
Director of Nuisance Abatement

Los Angeles City Attorney's Office
1645 Corinth Ave., Room 210
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Asha Greenberg, Supervising Deputy City Attorney
Tina Hess, Supervising Deputy City Attorney
Los Angeles City Attorney's Office

Detective Lori Miller, Acting Officer-in-Charge
Los Angeles Police Department

Mark Morrow, Sr. Building Inspector
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety

Chris Hatzikian, Sr. Housing Inspector
Bob Mitschell, Sr. Management Analyst
Los Angeles Housing Department

Cora Smith, City Planner
Planning Department

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Los Angeles City Attorney Personnel:
310 / 575-8500

South Bureau

77th & Southwest Areas:
Amy Brothers, Deputy City Attorney

Harbor & Southeast Areas:
Janet Karkanen, Deputy City Attorney

Southeast Area:
Onica Cole, Deputy City Attorney

Southwest Area:
Helen Yun, Deputy City Attorney

Central Bureau

Hollenbeck Area:
Daniel Whitley Deputy City Attorney

Rampart Area:
William Larsen, Deputy City Attorney

Newton Area:
Reginald Chun, Deputy City Attorney
Barbara Hamilton, Deputy City Attorney

Central & Northeast Areas:
Jonathan Cristall, Deputy City Attorney

Valley Bureau

Foothill & Van Nuys Areas:
Gretchen Smith, Deputy City Attorney

Devonshire, North Hollywood & West Valley Areas:
Colleen Courtney, Deputy City Attorney

West Bureau

Hollywood, Pacific, West L.A. & Wilshire Areas:
Jan Reyes, Deputy City Attorney

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