Crime continues its steady march across our communities, and nowhere is this more evident than in Manhattan Beach, where the local police department has reported its weekly crime statistics. According to an official document published by the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD), in the week of October 24 through October 30, there were 804 calls for service. This included 326 dispatched calls and 478 officer-initiated contacts. The period culminated in 23 arrests and 23 traffic collisions, as documented on the Manhattan Beach Government website.
Breaking down the criminal activities within this plage of time, still, residents in Manhattan Beach have witnessed a range of offenses. The MBPD reports framed the week with 54 crime reports. They outline the top eight crime categories: two assaults across different patrol areas, a business burglary, three residential burglaries, no auto thefts or robberies, eleven thefts, three vehicle burglaries, and a singular act of vandalism.
One notable incident detailed involved a traffic stop on October 24, where an officer found both drivers unlicensed. After pulling over a Toyota Prius unsafely towing a Dodge van, the officer found a loaded and concealed 9mm rifle in the van. The culprits, who, bearing the weight of past convictions, found themselves back in the cuffs of the law. Another incident on October 25 saw potential burglars alarm homeowners via their video surveillance systems, with the suspects disappearing into the Manhattan Beach night, as revealed by an official MBPD document.
Attempting to draw a silver lining around these dark clouds, the MBPD has offered tips to the community on how to safeguard against auto thefts. People should remember to lock their vehicles, consider installing alarms, never leave keys in the car or on the tire, and "do not leave your vehicle unattended with the
engine running."
In a measure to quell the surge of theft, these efforts are duly balanced with recognition that not all intrusions were met with success. A case in point on October 29 saw suspected burglars at Bevmo thwarted by a vigilant security guard. Their attempt to haul away goods from Mothers Market were abandoned, along with their vehicle, which turned out to be stolen. The suspects remained at large.
