MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — The Manhattan Beach Police Department is increasing foot patrols after 11 masked men busted into the Pasha Fine Jewelry store in downtown Manhattan Beach on June 24, smashing windows and taking valuables in the early evening. The incident was caught on eyewitness video and police say they are still looking for the suspects.
Longtime business owner Bob Beverly says he’s reeling from the crime that happened in broad daylight.
“That is by far and away the worst event I have ever heard of in my 70 years in Manhattan Beach,” he said.
Beverly owns the Shellback Tavern, down the street from where the armed robbery took place, and says he’s now taking extra precautions.
“We have never used more than two door people on the doors. We put five on the next night and we just hired six more,” he said.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department tells Spectrum News 1 that crimes like this are extremely rare, the first of its kind this year.
However, these types of crimes are more common in other parts of Los Angeles, including Melrose Avenue, which saw a wave of armed robberies last fall. Hazel Brown, who owns a clothing boutique on shopping corridor, says she hired a security guard in April after shoplifters stole $5,000 dollars in merchandise and returned to assault an employee a week later.
“After the assault happened, we had a lot more police presence because of that incident, but since then, a couple weeks faded and that presence faded also,” she said.
LAPD did not respond to a request for comment, but according to data accessed through the California Public Records Act, business and residential robberies increased by 37% in the first five months of 2022 compared to 2021.
Back in Manhattan Beach, Beverly says after outdoor dining was set up during the pandemic, he believes it attracted more crowds to the popular beach community and says everyone must take part in deterring criminal activity.
“We need everyone’s help. We need the residents to report things. The businesses to report things,” he said.
Anyone who has information about the robbery, contact the Manhattan Beach Police Department’s tip line at (310) 802-5171 or call Detective Ian Mikelson at (310) 802-5121.