The Manhattan Beach Police Department has recently released its weekly crime summary detailing incidents from January 2 through January 8. The summary reveals a total of 29 crime reports were taken, with the most frequent incidents being thefts, followed by vehicle burglaries and vandalism. Particularly affected were Patrol Areas 3 and 4, with five theft reports, and Patrol Areas 1 and 4 where vehicle burglaries and vandalism were reported, respectively.
According to the published summary, the police department responded to 764 calls for service, including 233 dispatched calls and 531 officer-initiated contacts. During this time frame, the MBPD made 12 arrests and documented 15 traffic collisions. Residents of the 700 block of 35th Street were subject to one such act of vandalism when a victim found "a fist-size hole in their driver window" and subsequently, when they opened the door, "the remainder of the window shattered and fell to the ground."
Another incident occurred on January 5, when a vehicle burglary took place on the 1500 block of 3rd Street. The burglar managed to smash the rear window of a vehicle, absconding with gift cards and open Christmas gifts contained in a gift bag. This incident appears to be part of a larger concern for vehicle security in the area, with an attempted vehicle burglary also recorded on Rosecrans Avenue. There, a FedEx driver discovered "the lock to the rear latch was missing and markings on the back door that signified someone attempted to enter the delivery truck," as stated by the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
In light of these incidents, the MBPD has issued valuable crime prevention tips. They underscore the importance for residents to consider investing in a monitored home alarm system and installing security cameras that might be able to deter or even identify intruders. Additional advice includes installing motion-activated lights, exercising caution not to broadcast travel plans on social media, and staying vigilant through neighborhood watch programs. Special attention was advised for the identification of any unknown devices that could be Wi-Fi jammers around homes.
Also included in the MBPD's public communications was a public service announcement regarding air quality and how to stay safe during poor conditions. Recommendations include remaining indoors, refraining from intense outdoor physical activity, running air purifiers, and wearing N-95 masks if one has to be outdoors. The announcement also suggests avoiding the use of fireplaces, candles, incense, grilling, and gasoline-powered equipment during times when the air quality is severely compromised.
