Construction site burglaries surge in Pacific Palisades Play

Thefts from construction sites are escalating in Pacific Palisades, but the L.A. County Sheriff has not reported a large increase in Malibu yet.

The Westside Current newspaper reports that some residents in the Palisades are barricading their streets at night to keep cruising burglars out.

One resident, Morgan Goldberg, put up a public social media post standing in front of a barricade on a public street with flashing lights.

“So this is the Palisades and it's 9 o'clock at night and there's no police ever,” Goldberg said. “(The city) actually took our actual police cars out of our neighborhood. And because there are no police, this neighborhood has created a barricade system to prevent the thieves who come in, basically unmonitored, and steal the copper pipes and copper wiring. This is true. This is really happening in the wealthiest neighborhood. There's nobody here.”

Los Angeles Police Department stats show that eight construction sites were burgled in June in the Palisades. Smash and grab robberies. Locks smashed. Gates forced open.

Residents tell the Westside Current newspaper that the Palisades are particularly vulnerable after dark.

In her selfie, Goldberg made her views clear. The video is subtitled “My Angels Have Glocks.”

“This is the government failing the people,” Goldberg said. “This is government failing in real time, people. This is our government failing us. This is the people, the neighbors coming together to solve this public safety issue saying, hey, ‘do you want your copper pipes and your electric wire stolen again?’ No. I do not.”

LAPD urged residents to regularly check their properties or arrange for someone else to check them. Also, make sure contractors lock up tools and equipment, place GPS trackers on expensive equipment, and keep tools and equipment in well-lit areas monitored by security cameras.