Deputies And City Plan To Battle Summer Burglaries and Thefts

Over the last two years …  the number of reported residential burglaries increased by about 50 percent in Malibu. 

And car burglaries are up 18 percent.

The annual summer uptick in burglaries in Malibu has sheriff’s deputies proposing a plan.

“Smash and grab” burglaries at parked cars … as well as thieves finding car keys that were supposedly hidden in a bumper or wheel … are more common in the summer.

And thefts from unlocked vehicles, as well as residential burglaries, also increase during the summer months.

The city staff and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are proposing a community-wide approach burglaries.

The Whole Community Public Safety Initiative aims to increase public awareness of crime prevention strategies.

Three prongs:

First … a series of workshops led by deputies … in various locations across Malibu … geared toward residents and people who work in the City.

Postal workers, delivery drivers, dog walkers will be asked to identify public safety vulnerabilities.

Second … an intensive social media campaign to remind people of best practices to prevent crime.

And third … signs  posted at specific burglary hotspots.

These would remind residents and visitors to remove stuff from their vehicles and lock them when going to the beach, shopping, or dining. e goal of this initiative is to reverse this trend and reduce the incidence of these crimes to below the 2016 crime rates.