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Cerritos reports falling burglaries as city expands cameras, drones and staffing
Summary
Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama said residential burglaries are down 7.5% in the first five months of 2025 and outlined new public-safety tools including automated license-plate readers, aerial drones and more community safety officers.
Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama told attendees at the 2025 State of the City that residential burglaries in the first five months of 2025 fell 7.5% compared with the same period last year, and city officials have deployed new tools to sustain that trend.
The mayor said the city has prioritized residential burglary alarm calls, shortening average deputy response time from 24 minutes last year to seven minutes today. "We have prioritized residential burglary alarm calls, reducing average response time of our deputies from 24 minutes last year to just 7 minutes today," Yokoyama said.
Why it matters: faster response and new technology can change outcomes in property-crime calls, but they also raise policy and oversight questions for residents and the agencies that operate them.
Details: Yokoyama said the city has installed automated license-plate recognition (ALPR) cameras at 11 high-volume intersections and completed another round of camera installations. He also said the city increased the number of community safety officers by 66% and secured approval from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for the Cerritos Sheriff Station to deploy aerial drones to support patrol operations. "Cerritos Sheriff's Station is the first patrol station to be granted approval by the LASD to deploy aerial drones in support of field operations," he said.
The mayor highlighted a recent rescue at Don Knabe Community Regional Park (March 29) in which two young residents helped deputies and EMTs reach and resuscitate an unresponsive toddler; the city publicly recognized the individuals and first responders on April 10.
Public outreach: The city has prepared a public information campaign about reporting and response. A Cerritos Sheriff Station public-service video included a statement from a watch deputy: "Your calls matter. They help us direct resources to where they're needed most." That video also reiterated 911 for emergencies and (562) 860-0044 for nonemergencies.
Context and next steps: Yokoyama said the city will hold a community safety town hall July 30 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts where residents can meet public-safety personnel and see LASD drones and a Special Enforcement Bureau tactical vehicle. The mayor closed the State of the City by saying, "I am Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama and I am proud to say that the state of the city is strong."
