Point Loma-OB public safety report: Sunset Cliffs congestion, online safety, police blotter
Police ask community to avoid Sunset Cliffs
Recent vehicle and pedestrian congestion prompted the San Diego Police Department to ask the community to avoid the Sunset Cliffs area.
“No parking” signs were posted along the west curb line of 700-900 Sunset Cliffs and the 4500 block of Ladera Street.
Since Sunset Cliffs Natural Park was reopened April 27 after being closed about a month because of the coronavirus pandemic, some neighbors have complained about large crowds and said some visitors stay late into the night, especially to watch the recent bioluminescence.
Police and city officials reminded the public to obey mandates for social distancing and against standing and sitting on the beach, saying small areas such as Sunset Cliffs can’t accommodate crowds.
The Police Department said the new parking signs seemed to help.
“Friendly reminder: San Diego County has 70 awesome miles of coastline — please consider choosing a different location,” the Police Department wrote on its Facebook page.
Tips to keep children safe online
As families across San Diego stay at home to protect against the coronavirus, children are spending more time online for school, entertainment and social interactions with friends. The City Attorney’s Office shares these tips to help keep children safe online:
- Educate yourself. Online communication is constantly evolving, as are the specific ways kids use the Internet to connect with others. Risks vary based on the type of usage. Parents should keep up on current technologies and know how their kids are using the Internet.
- Educate your children. Make sure they understand the difference between a friend and a predator. Explain that people might fake who they are online, and stress the importance of not engaging with strangers. Advise against accepting “follow” or “friend” requests from people they don’t know and caution them not to include personal information on their profiles. Discuss relevant news stories about online predators around the dinner table.
- Establish open communication. Internet safety can’t be a one-time conversation. It is easier to protect children who feel they can tell you what’s going on without getting into trouble. Encourage open and non-judgmental communication if they encounter a stranger who makes inappropriate comments, a classmate who tries to humiliate them or another student or boyfriend or girlfriend who is being threatening.
- Set rules. Limit online time and platforms. Let your children know you put these rules in place because you love them and want them to be safe. Some families find it useful to create an Internet usage contract that outlines family rules. When possible, put rules in place that are consistent with those implemented by the parents of their friends and acquaintances.
- Discuss risky behavior and unhealthy relationships. Talk about online flirting and how it can veer into uncomfortable territory. Tell them it’s OK to stop communicating with anyone who asks questions that are too personal or sexually suggestive or pressures them to keep the relationship secret.
- Talk about “sexting” and intimate photos. This may be awkward, but warn them to never share pictures of themselves or messages they wouldn’t want to be permanently available on the Internet and visible to their family, classmates, teachers or future employers. Urge them to tell you immediately if anything inappropriate is requested or shared.
- Monitor Internet use, approve the apps your child uses and know their account passwords. Keep an eye on who they interact with. Look at your child’s browsing history, deleted history and private searches. Most computers, cellphones, smart TVs and gaming consoles have built-in parental controls. Learn how to use them.
- Report online predators. Start by taking a screenshot of concerning messages. Report a potential predator to the platform where the contact occurred, then block the offender and contact police. Keep calm and don’t blame your child. Predators expect children to be too ashamed to tell about them. It’s important to be supportive.
Police blotter
Attempted murder: Heritage Inn, 3300 block Channel Way, about 3:30 a.m. April 30. A woman reported that a man stabbed her multiple times in her hands and upper back. She said she lost consciousness twice before calling police. She was taken to a hospital. She did not have a detailed description of the attacker.
Assaults: 16
Drug/alcohol violations: 63
DUI drugs/alcohol: 2
Fraud: 9
Weapons: 1
Arson: 3 — 4600 block Muir, 12:01 a.m. April 17; 4700 block Muir, 12:21 a.m. April 17; 4700 block Voltaire, 12:01 a.m. April 17
Residential burglaries: 8 — 3700 block Del Mar, 6 p.m. April 8; 1600 block Chatsworth, 2:15 a.m. April 10; 3500 block Quimby, 3 a.m. April 6; 4200 block Mentone, 5 p.m. April 13; 4400 block Mentone, 5:30 a.m. April 16; 3900 block Lomaland, 8 a.m. April 5; 3800 block Groton, 11 p.m. April 16; 3200 block Harbor View, 7:50 a.m. April 23
Commercial burglaries: 3 — 2800 block Historic Decatur, 11:48 p.m. April 11; 2800 block Historic Decatur, 6:22 a.m. April 13; 3400 block Midway, 3:17 a.m. April 19
Street robberies: 1 — 3000 block Midway, 7:14 p.m. April 22
Commercial robberies: 4 — 3500 block Sports Arena, 5:30 p.m. March 26; 3100 block Midway, 9:25 p.m. April 16; 2100 block Bacon, 3:10 a.m. April 26; 3200 block Sports Arena, 12:43 p.m. April 24
Grand theft (over $950): 12
Petty theft/shoplifting: 19
Vandalism: 16
Vehicle break-ins: 33
Vehicle theft: 11