Sheriff: 90 Percent of Malibu Crime Committed by Homeless Play

Malibu is seeing its annual summertime rash of crimes involving homeless persons.

The sheriff's department told the Public Safety Commission last night that 90 percent of the crime in Malibu is committed by homeless persons. And July saw 11 arrests.

Attempted burglary. DUI. Felony obstruction of justice for biting a deputy. Carrying a concealed loaded firearm. DUI. Another DUI. Assault with a deadly weapon. Residential burglary. Robbery and battery of an employee at the Sunday shop. DUI. Indecent exposure.

Meanwhile, summer is two thirds over. The special Beach Team has been working at Zuma, Westward and Surfrider beaches.

Sgt. Chris Soderlund, the sheriff's Malibu liaison:

"As of basically this past weekend, we have issued 252 alcohol on the beach citations, 540 traffic citations, 749 parking citations, and we towed 312 illegally parked vehicles that were creating a safety hazard."

And that was just the Beach Team, not the regular contingent of 15 or so deputies who regularly patrol Malibu.

Malibu residents pay the county about $900,000 per summer for the Beach Team. About 10 deputies per day help handle the 10 million or so visitors who flock to the city between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The Beach Team was created more than 25 years ago, after a rash of gang fights and stabbings shocked residents near Zuma Beach.