CITIES MEAN BUSINESS IN ANTI-CRIME CAMPAIGN.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Staff Writer

Marshaling San Fernando Valley area businesses to crack down on crime, community leaders and police from four cities will announce an ambitious plan today to start Business Watch groups modeled on the success of a Sepulveda Boulevard group.

Police from Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale and San Fernando have joined with the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley to distribute brochures, phone lists and tips in an effort to quell crime against businesses. Officers will attend Valley Business Watch meetings to field concerns and alert businesses to problems.

``The better business becomes in the San Fernando Valley, the better off we all are,'' said Jim Stewart, program manager for the Economic Alliance. ``It comes down to the business owners wanting to do something to improve their own areas.''

Today, police chiefs from Burbank, Glendale and San Fernando and Los Angeles police and city officials will debut the program at a news conference at Wickes Furniture in Van Nuys.

The Business Watches are similar to Neighborhood Watch programs.

``Communication is the big advantage both ways because it lets the business community know what's going on and gives us an early warning when they see something suspicious,'' said Chief David Newsham of Burbank.

In Los Angeles, detective captains will be urged to attend Business Watch meetings to listen to merchants' concerns and explain crime trends with maps, charts and statistics.

``Our job now is to do the same good job we've done in the past with Neighborhood Watch and get into the business community and let them know that the benefits far outweigh the small amount of time it takes to participate,'' said Cmdr. Val Paniccia, assistant command officer of the Valley Bureau.

An agenda for change

The first step toward nurturing Business Watches is the distribution of free how-to brochures with tips on setting up a group, organizing meetings and identifying problems that need attention.

The United Chambers of Commerce has agreed to promote the program through the 23 chambers that serve almost every business district in the Valley.

The Valley Economic Alliance also has set up a library at its headquarters where business owners can pick up binders with phone lists for public agencies and detailed success stories.

The Business Watch program is based on the success of the 400-member Sepulveda Boulevard Business Watch, formed six years ago by Flip Smith, a tire dealer who believed neighborhood crime would close his business.

``We had prostitutes walking up and down the street, panhandlers and graffiti everywhere and the city wasn't cleaning up the street,'' said Smith, who is also the Economic Alliance's public safety chairman.

``Our goal was to make the business community attractive so our neighbors behind us would feel safe and secure and shop at our businesses and not go across town,'' Smith said.

Since the group's formation, apartment managers have cleaned up their buildings and put in new landscaping. Several motels discouraged prostitution by painting the curb red so motorists could not stop, he said.

The group meets monthly and draws about 30 business owners and managers who voice their concerns and problems to LAPD officers, who also attend.

At its meeting Wednesday night, police planned to give a presentation on when it is appropriate for merchants to call 911.

Business booster 

Among the hotel managers who embraced these efforts was Robert Reyes at the nine-room Cinema Motel on Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys.

Several years ago, he and other motel owners bought a cell phone for the area's vice officers so the managers could report prostitution and other crimes directly to the police.

``We all have to stick together to solve the problem,'' Reyes said. ``Five years ago people would come in here and say they had problems but now we have security, more lighting in the parking lot. People feel safe and they do come back.''

Les Birken, owner of Star Restaurant & Supply on Sepulveda Boulevard, also credits Smith and the partnership of local stores with improving business through measures as simple as keeping the sidewalks and curbs clean.

``It creates a more inviting environment for customers when there's no trash around,'' said Birken.

Paniccia confirmed the sea change along Sepulveda Boulevard.

``Our goal is to step on top of the success we've had and jump even farther,'' Paniccia said.

Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, who could not attend the news conference today, made Business Watch programs a top priority and put them under the responsibility of the detective captain at each division.

``Chief Parks realizes that the one way to really impact crime in the business community is to get the businesses involved,'' Paniccia said.

Organizers of the Valley Business Watch plan to leave it to businesses to decide whether and how they want to participate, but Paniccia said officers will be encouraged to visit businesses and get them teamed up with neighboring stores.

``We will have people going door to door occasionally,'' Paniccia said. ``We will sell the program from the standpoint of why they should be involved.''

Tried and tested

Piecemeal efforts to start Business Watches have met with success, providing incentive for many communities to embrace the program.

In Glendale, two downtown Business Watch groups started just six months ago and helped police catch a janitor suspected of going from store to store stealing computers.

``Getting business owners together to talk about common topics and partner with surrounding agencies improves business for them and the quality of life for the community,'' said Glendale Police Chief Russ Siverling.

San Fernando Police Chief Dominic Rivetti said his department has organized Business Watch groups in the past but only in response to specific problems.

``Now we hope to develop a more stable Business Watch where we can deal with problems before they develop and keep a dialogue going between police and the business community,'' Rivetti said.

Since San Fernando is a relatively small city, Rivetti said, he believes the community can quickly organize a Business Watch program to keep merchants apprised of trends in the area like scams and suspects who repeatedly target the same type of business.

These groups typically also teach store owners and managers how to cut down on bad checks, employee theft and other business-related crimes.

GETTING STARTED

The Valley Business Watch seeks to combat crime and boost the bottom line by getting merchants to team up, remove blight and share their concerns with police. The first tool toward that goal is a brochure that teaches business owners how to start a Business Watch group. Among the suggestions:

Organize an area that encompasses 100 to 300 businesses.

Select organizers and block captains.

Choose a place to meet and have block captains notify participants.

Create a phone list of business owners for future contact.

Identify problems and map out solutions.

Don't get discouraged if it takes more than a few meetings to get several businesses involved.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Flip Smith, left, and Robert Reyes help keep their area safe as members of the pioneer Sepulveda Boulevard Business Watch.

Phil McCarten/Daily News

Box: GETTING STARTED (See text)