Sheriff ’s captain talks city issues at coffee event
PALMDALE — Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Capt. Ron Shaffer hosted his second Coffee with a Captain event on Thursday morning via Facebook, during which time he outlined some of the issues plaguing the city.
He said robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries and arson continue to be an issue and added car thefts to the top of the list.
“The aggravated assaults have to do with gang activity and people assaulting each other,” Shaffer said. “But it also has to do with domestic violence.”
Parent/adult child violence is one of the domestic violence issues with which his department deals. He said the department is work
“The harder a person can make it to steal their vehicle, the less attractive. Hopefully the potential bad guy or gal will move on.” — Det. Shane Wolf auto theft detective
ing with community groups to help them get those numbers down.
Another crime that is trending upward is auto theft.
Det. Shane Wolf, the auto theft detective, said he’s been investigating that type of crime for about a year, but has been with the department for about two years.
A lot of thefts occur at community markets, grocery stores and public areas. They seem to be thefts of opportunity, as keys are left in vehicles or the vehicles are left unattended for a short period of time.
Though any vehicle is subject to theft, criminals are targeting late 1990to early 2000-model Honda Civics and Accords.
“Those ignitions are fairly easy to defeat for criminals,” Wolf said. “If you have one of those models, try to park it in a well-lit area or next to other folks. There might be some bystanders that see you and deter the theft.”
He also encouraged car owners to buy a Club, which is a theft deterrent that locks onto the steering wheel.
“The harder a person can make it to steal their vehicle, the less attractive,” Wolf said. “Hopefully the potential bad guy or gal will move on.”
He also suggested those who park in the street in residential areas should also seek out well-lit areas or, if possible, park their vehicle in their garage. “That’s a huge deterrent,” Wolf said. Most thefts occur during the early morning hours between midnight and 2 a.m., so surveillance cameras are another way to protect property. They can also help deputies in apprehending the criminals.
Shaffer suggested that vehicle owners take photos of their cars, motorcycles or trailers, in the event that they are stolen.
“There have been 300 vehicle thefts this year, through the end of June, compared to 230 last year,” he said.
Wolf also suggested accurate record-keeping, especially where older vehicles are concerned, but also for motorcycles and trailers. He said knowing the license plate, serial number and/or vehicle identification number of the vehicle makes it easer to enter stolen property into the department’s database.
He cautioned against carrying a title or pink slip in the glove compartment, as thieves could easily re-register the vehicle or sell it.
“Be a vigilant witness; be a good neighbor and a good friend,” Wolf said. “If you see suspicious activity, don’t be afraid to report it to the sheriff’s department. If you see something that rises to another level and someone is in danger, call 911.”
A couple of people tuning in to the broadcast had questions for Shaffer.
One asked what is being done about mail theft.
Shaffer said the department is working with the postal inspector and detectives are out, trying to solve these crimes.
“Unfortunately, we’re trying to solve a crime after it’s happened,” he said.
He said a couple of people were taken into custody in connection with mail theft, and about 1,000 pieces of mail were found in a residence.
“We’re going through the process and reuniting the victims with their mail,” he said regarding the stolen items.
He also said some of the recovered mail included stimulus checks and high school and college diplomas.
Another viewer asked why deputies were not wearing masks when on duty.
Shaffer said it’s at the officer’s discretion and sometimes officers will choose not to wear one if they feel their safety is being compromised.
He mentioned traffic stops in particular, saying they are dangerous for the deputies.
“It’s not until you understand who’s in the car and what you’re dealing with, when things settle down,” he said. “When communication is critical, that may be why they’re not wearing them.”
A third viewer asked whether coughing or spitting on someone was considered assault.
Shaffer said it’s like someone reaching out and slapping or “doing anything else to you.”
“There’s lots of social media viral videos of assaults and fights and people arguing over wearing or not wearing a mask,” he said. “I don’t think that’s worth an assault.”
He said wearing a mask is an individual thing and you can’t change another’s behavior.