As Manhattan Beach waves goodbye to 2025, the local police department has released their final weekly crime summary for December 24 through December 30. According to the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD), there were 742 calls for service, resulting in 9 arrests and 29 reports taken. Traffic incidents were relatively low, with 13 collisions reported.
While such tallies can swiftly be perused and placed aside, it's important to carefully consider the human stories behind these cold statistics. One such incident involved an alleged fight between a transient and a store employee on Manhattan Beach Boulevard. As the MBPD notes, "the victim stated the suspect stole items, and as he left, an employee attempted to stop them." This altercation is a stark reminder that crime, albeit infrequent in this district, does make its occasional and unwelcome visit.
The MBPD highlighted a notable event that occurred on December 29, around 3:42 a.m. An officer, who was "proactively patrolling" at the time, spotted a suspicious individual loitering near a vehicle on Ruhland Avenue. This alert observation led to the prevention of a vehicle theft and the arrest of the suspect, who was found with "over a pound of methamphetamine in his possession and a loaded handgun with an obliterated serial number." The nefarious plans were foiled, and the busy holiday period was marginally safer for it.
In assistance to the citizens, MBPD provided some crime prevention tips for the holiday season—advice that bears repeating even as we usher in the new year. Among their recommendations, they urge residents to not to inadvertently announce their absence by putting their holiday plans on social media and to consider installing alarm systems equipped with cameras. Furthermore, they recommend that residents notify the MBPD of their vacation plans, and we will conduct security checks during our patrols. Such proactive measures are intended to safeguard Manhattan Beach's community, even as officers continue to vigilantly patrol the streets.
For more details and the complete weekly crime summary, readers can visit the MBPD's official report.
