LOS ANGELES — An alarming spate of retail thefts, or “smash and grabs,” have plagued the Los Angeles area over the past month.

One of the most recent occurred at a Macy’s in Sherman Oaks. 

Daphne Bradford, a lifelong Los Angeles resident who is also running for LA County Supervisor in District 2, came back to find her catalytic convert had been stolen during a short shopping trip to her local grocery store in Ladera Heights — the same plaza where a Bath and Body Works had reported several incidents of petty theft. 

Despite the high-profile incidents, the LAPD has reported a drop in robberies and burglaries this year while the sheriff’s department that patrols where the Ladera Center is located has reported an uptick.

Daphne said statistics aren’t what’s important.

“This is something about us as a community and residents and constituents and people versus some stats. You have to do something about it,” she said.

Bradford is hosting the first of a series of public safety summits at the Ladera Center to help law enforcement connect with business owners to create solutions. 

The summit will be on Sunday, Aug. 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ladera Shopping Center.