Residents of Manhattan Beach should sleep with one eye open as the latest crime statistics from the local police department paint a picture of a community under siege by burglars and thieves. According to the Manhattan Beach Police Department's weekly report, the period of February 8 through February 14 saw 33 crime reports, with theft topping the list at seven incidents spread across various patrol areas.
While prowling the night to commit dastardly deeds, a bold suspect was caught red-handed wearing a homeowner's jacket, which they left behind after being confronted in the 800 block of The Strand. The attempted residential burglary took place at a chilling 12:30 a.m., as detailed in the MBPD's release. The suspect, realizing the jig was up, returned the jacket and disappeared into the dark recesses of the neighborhood.
With an air of carelessness that could only come from a true ne'er-do-well, another residential burglary occurred just 35 minutes later and a few streets away, where a suspect found keys conveniently left in a door and entered the home in the 200 block of 11th St. This fleeting visit was captured by surveillance cameras, showing the suspect exiting quickly and absconding northbound.
Hot on the heels of property crimes, a fire was allegedly set by a suspect at the Westdrift Hotel, as revealed in the police records. Acting in the dead of night, the suspect incinerated a large cardboard bale near the loading dock, but the flames were quickly snuffed out by heroic hotel staff. Surveillance equipment managed to catch the suspect's retreat, making a beeline westward and vanishing from sight.
In their ongoing battle against the vicious cycle of neighborhood crimes, MBPD has issued a list of safety tips to deter residential burglaries, such as installing adequate lighting and using alarm systems. These precautionary measures abound in common sense, yet are often overlooked in the daily hustle. To enhance community engagement, the department is also hosting its first Coffee with a Cop event of 2024, according to their announcement, extending an olive branch to residents potentially rattled by recent unlawful exploits.
