Two people are facing felony vandalism accusations in Malibu after sheriff's deputies say they caught them tagging homes left in ruins by the January 7, 2025, Palisades Fire. Deputies say the pair admitted to spraying graffiti on charred structures and were found with dozens of spray‑paint cans in their vehicle.
According to KTLA, deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills station spotted two suspicious males walking away from a fire‑damaged home on the 20000 block of Pacific Coast Highway on March 10 and reported smelling a strong odor of paint. KTLA reports that the two admitted to tagging the wreckage and were arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism. Deputies found about 50 to 60 cans of spray paint in their vehicle, according to the outlet.
Word of the arrests touched a nerve at a recent community meeting, where residents already reeling from the fire heard the details. Resident Haylynn Conrad summed up the mood in the room with a blunt reaction: "the gall of these people," she said when officials described what happened. KTLA also notes that the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station posted on social media that it will not tolerate criminal activity in neighborhoods still recovering from the blaze.
Fire-scarred lots remain easy targets
The Palisades Fire that swept through Pacific Palisades and Malibu on Jan. 7, 2025, leveled entire blocks and left many properties gutted or awaiting demolition. According to CAL FIRE, the incident reports list about 6,808 structures destroyed and 11 civilian fatalities. Those stark, charred shells are the very sites deputies say were defaced, complicating cleanup and insurance work for homeowners.
Charges and next steps
Deputies booked the two suspects on suspicion of felony vandalism and say investigators seized the spray paint found in the vehicle while processing the scene. The Malibu/Lost Hills station wrote on social media, "We will not tolerate criminal activity in our communities, especially in areas where residents have already been impacted by devastating fires," and said patrols and enforcement will remain a priority in the burn area. Authorities asked anyone with video or tips to contact the Lost Hills station.
The arrests highlight the added strain on communities trying to recover from the blaze, where stripped‑down foundations and vacant lots remain vulnerable to opportunistic crimes. Local leaders and law enforcement say they will keep up patrols and press for the prosecution of people who exploit the aftermath.
