MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — There were 14 arrests, 20 traffic accidents, and more than 1,000 calls for service in Manhattan Beach between Feb. 19-25, police say.
Of the various crime categories, the top one was theft (nine cases), followed by vandalism (three) and vehicle theft (two). There was one case each of assault, residential burglary, and business burglary.
The residential burglary call originated at about 7 pm on Feb. 20 when the victim left their garage door open, and an unknown individual stole a security safe and tools. Surveillance video showed a male exiting a 4-door SUV and entering the victim’s garage.
The subject stole the property, loaded his vehicle, and drove away, according to police. The loss is estimated at $3,700. Detectives are investigating the case.
On Feb. 20 and 23, victims reported having items stolen from their vehicles after they left their car doors unlocked. In the Feb. 23 case, a gym bag was taken from a front passenger seat, and in the other incident, a purse was stolen from the front seat.
The MBPD has offered the following tips to prevent theft from vehicles:
Always lock your doors every time you exit your vehicle.Roll up all windows completely.Take your keys and key fob with you; never leave keys inside the vehicle.Hide or remove valuables: keep purses, laptops, phones, bags, and packages out of sight, or take them with you.Park in well-lit, busy areas: choose areas with good lighting and foot traffic whenever possible.Close and secure the vehicle completely: double-check that doors are locked, windows are up, sunroofs are closed, and the trunk is secure before walking away.