The City of Manhattan Beach has released another weekly crime summary, and the numbers, as usual, paint a telling picture of the community's battle against property crime. Last week, from January 15 to January 21, 2026, the Manhattan Beach Police Department logged a total of 985 calls for service. This included both dispatched calls and officer-initiated contacts. There were a total of 19 arrests made, 48 reports taken, and 19 traffic collisions reported, as outlined by the official police document.
Vehicle burglaries seem to be a consistent nuisance, with 7 incidents, primarily concentrated in patrol areas 2 and 4. The phenomenon of theft—broadly categorized—rang in with 3 incidents, all in patrol area 4. The police noted a single auto theft in patrol area 3, while other top crime categories, such as assault, business and residential burglaries, and robbery, fortunately reported zero incidents this week. Vandalism was reported twice within patrol area 1.
Several notable events were detailed by the police, among which catalytic converter thefts stood out, occurring on three separate occasions, at the Manhattan Beach Mall, the Manhattan Beach Country Club, and the 300 block of Poinsettia Avenue. Despite their efforts, law enforcement officials have yet to find any suspect info in these cases. In response to the surge in vehicle burglary, the Manhattan Beach Police Department has advised residents on crime prevention. Suggestions include always locking your vehicle, hiding valuables, and parking in secure, well-lit areas. These tips were offered in hopes of curbing the recent trend of opportunistic thefts from vehicles.
Residents did, however, experience credit card theft when, unbeknownst to them, their parked vehicle was broken into while they were at the Manhattan Country Club. The thieves proceeded to make fraudulent purchases at the Apple store, although no suspects have been located yet in connection with this incident. In light of these thefts, the Manhattan Beach Police Department is reinforcing the message to "Lock your vehicle every time, even for short stops," and to "Remove valuables" or "lock them in the trunk before arriving" in efforts to deter would-be thieves.
We all play a part in keeping our communities safe. The MBPD encourages the use of deterrents such as steering-wheel locks and taking advantage of vehicle alarms. By implementing these measures, residents can help law enforcement reduce the incidence of vehicle-related crimes.
