The Manhattan Beach Police Department has released their weekly crime summary for December 19 through December 25, which notes a total of nine arrests and 637 calls for service including 288 dispatched calls for service and 349 officer-initiated contacts, amid the bustle of the holiday season.
As reported by the Manhattan Beach Police Department, the summary lists 17 traffic collisions and 29 crime reports taken, with theft incidents leading the crime categories in Patrol Areas 2 and 4, totaling five incidents, and a combination of assault, residential burglary, vehicle burglary, and vandalism each recorded once in Patrol Area 3, suggesting a concentration of criminal activity within this sector, another concerning data point for the community which may spark calls for an increased police presence or community vigilance in this period marked by shopping and celebration where criminals could be emboldened.
Two notable events stand out in the report, including an incident on December 19, where a suspect was arrested after attempting to evade police, who were responding to reports of a suspicious individual looking into vehicles and prowling properties on Ocean Drive for packages—another case involved a repeated offender, arrested on December 20 after trying to access home on Highland Avenue, with the perpetrator being detained for mental health evaluation after a resident reported the attempted break-in by this known subject, as detailed by the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
Understanding the heightened risk of crime during the holidays, the MBPD shared prevention tips, highlighting important measures like not broadcasting travel plans on social media, securing homes with alarm systems and surveillance, overseeing package deliveries to avoid theft, and maintaining an awareness of one's surroundings, these tips seek to enable residents to stave off would-be holiday criminals and protect their homes and belongings during a time where the pull of material desire inflames the underworld.
Additionally, the MBPD has shed light on the concerns related to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1, confirming two cases originating in birds at Manhattan Beach's waterline, enforcing LA County laws to keep dogs off the beaches as part of the response, the Animal Control Officers are on increased surveillance duty to mitigate the spread of this virus with the community's safety and the wildlife in mind, for more detailed information on symptoms and prevention, residents are urged to refer to the safety bulletins posted on the City of Manhattan Beach website and the CDC and DPH websites.
