Crime statistics for the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station show a 12 percent drop in overall crimes reported in 2012. And car thefts dropped 15 percent. (File Photo)
By Michael P. Neufeld
Twin Peaks, CA – Auto thefts dropped 15 percent last year, according to the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Office.
Twin Peaks Captain Rick Ells (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld)
“While other areas of the county showed increases in auto thefts,” Captain Rick Ells told ROTWNEWS, “Twin Peaks reduced the number of auto thefts from 53 in 2011 to 45 last year.”
Captain Ells explained that many of the so-called auto thefts involve trailers and jet skis.
“Highland had a 31 percent increase with 298 vehicles stolen,” Ells noted, “and Yucca Valley had a 30 percent increase and Rancho Cucamonga a 24 percent increase. We filed reports of about one a week during 2012.”
Deputies in the Twin Peaks Station had 20,466 calls for service — an average of 1,204 per deputy — they filed 2,524 deputy reports and made 804 arrests, according to statistics released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
There was a 12 percent decrease in part one and part two crimes in 2012, according to the department.
PART ONE CRIMES
Captain Ells explained that part one crimes — murder, burglary, rape, vehicle theft, robbery and assault — totaled 830 in 2011 and 829 in 2012.
“There was only one armed robbery,” Ells explained, “but an 11 percent increase in robberies with 9 in 2011 and 10 in 2012.”
The armed robbery involved the so-called Twinkies bandit — Charles Steve Ortiz, 62 — who allegedly robbed Mountain High Market, in Twin Peaks on October 1, reportedly stealing Twinkies, milk, Coke, whiskey and cash.
There was a 100 percent drop in murders in the 135-mile Twin Peaks service area, with 1 in 2011 and none last year. The previous year’s murder allegedly occurred on February 25, 2011, when Brandt Bailey Bater reportedly shot his wife. Bater’s case is currently making its way through the court system, with a trial readiness hearing scheduled for March 29.
There were seven rapes reported in both 2011 and 2012, 84 aggravated assaults compared to 89 in 2011, 269 burglaries in 2012 with 258 the previous year and 302 larceny reports compared to 287 in 2011.
PART TWO CRIMES
Captain Ells indicated part two crimes — forgery, fraud, embezzlement, drugs and vandalism –dropped 21 percent, with 1,405 reports compared to 1,916 in 2011.
ANTI-THEFT TIPS
“The best thing local residents can do is not leave valuables in their vehicles,” Captain Ells emphasized. “They should call us about suspicious persons and they should get to know their neighbors and keep an eye out for each other.”
Captain Ells cited the early release of prisoners, due to prison realignment, definitely accounts for an increase in certain crimes.
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