Authorities say the rash of thefts is not the work of a car theft ring.
By Andi Peterson/Special to The Malibu Times
Since the start of the new year, there has been an increase in the number of local car break-ins that has not only alarmed some residents and local business owners, but has also prompted the local sheriff’s station to increase its patrol frequency of Malibu streets and parking lots.
Sheriff’s officials said 41 break-ins have taken place since the end of November, with 20 of those occurring since Jan. 1.
“Yes, there is currently a spike in the number of car break-ins in Malibu,” said Detective Sergeant Tim Youmgern of the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. “The burglars target more than one vehicle at a time, usually in parking lots, which adds to the number of break-ins that we see.”
A definitive reason does not yet exist for the recent increase in vehicle break-ins. Rumors have been circulating throughout the community that a possible “ring” might be responsible for the current onslaught of vehicle burglaries. Sheriff’s officials said there is no evidence to support that claim.
“We do not think that this is the work of an organized crime ring. It may be the same individual or group of individuals, but we do not know yet,” Youmgern said. “We have increased our patrol frequencies in order to hopefully catch the culprits in the act or at least immediately following a break-in.”
Four of the recent break-ins occurred in the parking lot of the Malibu Health Club on Pacific Coast Highway, all within two days of each other. The cars had all been locked. The personal property reported stolen included three purses with wallets and one laptop computer.
The club’s general manager, Jarrod Michaels, said the scenario was the same every time. All the victims were patrons of the club who had parked their car in the lot, leaving valuable items visible to passersby. Upon returning from the club, they reported seeing a smashed window, whichever one that had been closest to the now-missing item.
Michaels even attempted to catch the culprits by watching the parking lot, but to no avail. He noted that, coincidentally, all four car break-ins occurred when the parking lot attendant was on vacation and absent from his duties.
The incidents have prompted Malibu Health Club to post a flyer in the parking lot warning people of the recent break-ins.
There have been no break-ins at the Malibu Health Club since the sign was posted three weeks ago.
Malibu’s small-town atmosphere, while one of its most enticing features, may also be partly to blame for the property thefts.
“When people are in Malibu they don’t even think twice about leaving their valuables on the front seat,” Michaels said. “In Los Angeles, no one would ever leave a laptop or a purse in plain view. They just wouldn’t.”
Two car break-ins also occurred at Webster Elementary School, both taking place on the same day within minutes of each other.
A source from the school said a woman informed the front office that sometime between the start of school and 9:30 a.m., her car window had been smashed and her purse stolen. She had been on campus during that time assisting in a classroom. While she was filing a police report in the school’s parking lot, another parent walked up to the officer and informed him that their car had just been broken into as well.
“The mindset is that this is a neighborhood school, nothing is going to happen. Even Malibu has car thieves, though. People need to keep that in mind,” said Principal Philip Cott, who has recently put notices in the school’s weekly bulletin reminding parents not to leave valuables in their cars.
The recent break-ins at Webster reminded school officials of similar incidents that occurred a little more than a year ago. Cars were broken into in the school’s parking lot as well as the lot at Our Lady of Malibu, located across the street.
The sheriff’s department strongly advises that people remove their belongings from their car before they leave it unattended in a public area. A locked car is oftentimes not a strong enough deterrent for a burglar.
According to police reports, the car break-ins since the beginning of this year have taken place at Pacific Coast Highway residences, the Malibu Gym, Malibu High School, and with cars parked on Morning View Drive, Stuart Ranch and Heathercliff Roads, and Surfside Way.