Vandalism Spurs Sheriff's Awareness Program

The Ramona sheriff's staff are gearing up for a public awareness program to deter vandalism in town.

According to Ramona crime logs, vandalism is fairly common. In recent weeks, damage has been done at , , and .

Some of the damage was done overnight and into the early hours of Jan. 19-20 .

"Someone flipped the breaker outside, then came in and turned on the hose and it was running for hours inside the store," said Jon Hasz, owner of Ramona Music Center on Main Street. He spent a couple of days getting everything back in order. The water flooded two of the back rooms and the carpet had to be dried out.

Hasz said that when the breaker went out, it took a few days to get his online back up because the server went down and it had to be reprogrammed. He said his security system also went down. It's the second time the store has been vandalized within about six months, he said.

"Someone shattered the front window months ago but couldn't get in," he said. "We've got bars and the security system."

Crime Prevention Specialist Barbara Wallace told Patch that each Ramona business should be watching out for each other, and the public should not be afraid to call the Sheriff's Department if they see something suspicious. The number to call is (760) 789-1200.

"There's nothing to stop a person taking a photo on a cell phone and giving that to us if they see something happening," Wallace said, though she stressed that any photo should be taken from a safe distance without interacting with the offenders or making the photography obvious.

To deter vandals, the Sheriff's Department has had four yellow-and-black signs made, plus some "clings" for store windows. They hope to work with Ramona Chamber of Commerce to decide on the best placement for the signs.

The signs and clings read: "Business Watch Program in Force. We report all suspicious activity to our fellow merchants and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department."

Wallace said, "It's like a Neighborhood Watch program, except it's businesses watching."

She has delivered a sign to the chamber and is waiting for input.

"They will probably want to discuss it at a board meeting," she said.

Patch did not receive a response from the chamber within the time constraints of this report.

A brochure titled Protecting Your Business From Crime is attached to this article and can be printed off Ramona Patch. It is also available from the sheriff's substation.

Crime Logs

The following information is from records at the sheriff's Ramona substation:

Jan. 25-26: Grand theft, 1000 block 12th St, St. Mary’s in the Valley Episcopal Church. Miscellaneous, $2,000.

Jan. 24: Residential burglary, 15400 block Barona Mesa Way, 3-5 p.m. Miscellaneous, $500.

Jan. 24-25: Petty theft, 16500 block N. Woodson Drive. Miscellaneous, $300.

Jan. 24: Prohibited personal ownership of ammunition, 1600 block Griffith Road. 23-year-old male booked into San Diego Central Jail.

Jan. 23-24: Grand theft, theft from motor vehicle, 26100 block Matlin Rd. Cameras, sunglasses, $3,320.

Jan. 1-24: Grand theft, 500 block Steffy Rd. Miscellaneous cash, papers, ID, $2,800.

Jan. 22: Vandalism, Old Julian Highway at Vista Ramona Rd, 4:30 p.m. Light truck, $5,000.

Jan. 21: Battery against police officer without injury; drunk in public. Montecito Way at El Paso St. 41-year-old woman was booked into Las Colinas Detention Facility.

Jan. 20: (Crime information not in report). 500 block Main St., Ramona Fitness, 12:01 a.m. Miscellaneous, $1,000.

Jan. 19-20: Grand theft, 1000 block H St. Miscellaneous, $4,500.

Jan. 20: Petty theft, 700 block Main St., 10 a.m. Cell phone, $400.

Jan. 19-20: Vandalism, petty theft, 1000 block Main St., Kentucky Fried Chicken. Stolen camera, miscellaneous damage, $500.

Jan. 19-20: Vandalism, 1200 block Main St., Ramona Library. Miscellaneous, $3000.

Jan. 19-20: Vandalism, 400 block 8th St., Ramona Elementary School. Miscellaneous, $400.

Jan. 19: Vandalism, 1700 block La Brea St., 2:30 p.m. Miscellaneous, $75.

Jan. 18: Probation violation and warrant arrest, 800 block A St., 7 a.m. Two men, ages 18 and 22, booked into San Diego Central Jail. Warrant arrest, a woman, age 21, was booked into Las Colinas Detention Facility.