National Night Out to Focus on Crime Prevention Around Los Angeles

Communities throughout the Southland will participate tonight in the 30th Annual National Night Out crime- and drug-prevention event.

"National Night Out is designed to strengthen police-community partnerships and neighborhood spirit, heighten crime- and drug-prevention awareness, and generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs,'' the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

Beginning as early as 4 p.m. in various communities -- and extending for several hours -- residents are urged to turn on their outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and law enforcement officers, who will be out in extra patrols.

Among the planned events:
   -- 4 p.m. in Commerce at various locations;
   -- 5 p.m. in Manhattan Beach at various locations;
   -- 5 p.m. in Marina del Rey at Ladera Park, 6027 Ladera Park Ave.;
   -- 5:30 p.m. in Burbank on Chandler Bikeway between Keystone and
Brighton streets;
   -- 5:30 p.m. in West Hollywood, at various locations, including Norton Avenue between Laurel and Hayworth avenues;
   -- 6 p.m. in Gardena at a Target store, 2169 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.;
   -- 6 p.m. in Monterey Park at City Hall, 320 W. Newmark Ave.;
   -- 6 p.m. in Echo Park at Walgreens store parking lot, 1625 W. Sunset Blvd.; and
   -- 6 p.m. in Lynwood on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, from Bullis Road to Hulme Avenue.

National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. More information is available at www.nationalnightout.org.

- City News Service