Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies are stepping up after-school patrol checks in an effort to curb unlawful activities by unsupervised juveniles.

Here’s the station’s report:

Business owners and residents relayed concerns to us about unsupervised youth, especially during afterschool hours.

As a result of community feedback, our J-Team and school resource deputies began conducting juvenile suppression operations.

When school lets out in the afternoon, many juveniles seek activities to keep busy- but unfortunately some of the activities may not be appropriate or they may be criminal in nature.

During the operations, J-Team and school resource deputies conduct patrol checks throughout the Santa Clarita Valley in areas known for students congregating.

The areas may include parks, the mall, shopping center parking lots, fast food establishments, or any other location that has been brought to our attention.

Deputies check on the juveniles to make sure they are safe and not engaging in unlawful activities such as smoking, consuming alcohol, and drug use.

Deputies also observe any adults in the target-specific areas, as there may be some adults loitering who could potentially be a bad influence on our youth.

Last Thursday afternoon during an operation, deputies arrested three adults for unlawful activity in a park located near a Canyon Country high school.

Sergeant Tim Vanderleek of the Juvenile Intervention Team (J- Team) oversees the suppression efforts, and confirms the operations will continue because the SCV Sheriff’s Station wants to keep our young people safe.