Downtown Los Angeles has unfortunately seen a string of disturbing incidents recently, including a “cherry-picking hijacker,” a machete-wielding murderer, a police carjacker, and the second vandalism of a Kobe Bryant mural in less than a month. These events have already prompted local resident groups to once again reach out to local law enforcement and city leaders for help and advice.
These high-profile incidents are concerning; it’s important to understand the broader context of crime in downtown LA. While the recent murder of 60-year-old Renato Eustaquio and assault on a downtown chef by the same machete-wielding maniac on June 1st are shocking, they are statistically less common than property crimes such as theft or vandalism. Unfortunately, the stark reality is downtown crime can happen at any time, to anyone, in any place.
So what can we do about it?
While no method guarantees absolute safety, and even police vehicles are vulnerable to theft, as proven by the arrest of 26-year-old Mark Arriola, who carjacked an L.A. County Sheriff’s Department bucket truck early on June 5th with a sheriff’s deputy trapped in the vehicle’s bucket high above the ground, law enforcement insists one can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim by adopting several key practices.
Staying Vigilant!
Stay aware of your surroundings; avoid distractions like constantly looking at the cell phone and instead pay attention to who is around you and what’s happening on the street at all times.
The recent incidents, while alarming, don’t necessarily indicate a universal increase in the overall likelihood of becoming a victim for every person, but they do underscore the critical importance of the old saying, “Watch Your Back!”
Use the buddy system.
When possible, especially at night, travel in groups, as there is inherent safety in numbers. Be mindful of valuables, keeping expensive items like phones and jewelry out of plain sight, and refrain from flashing large amounts of cash or leaving valuables visible when leaving a parked car.
Have a Plan
Sticking to a planned route with well-lit, populated streets, even if it means taking a slightly longer path, and utilizing navigation apps to stay on track could be the key. Utilize parking apps like “ParkUp” to ensure parking is as adjacent as possible when it comes to reaching your final destination.
Call the BIDs.
Business Improvement Districts, otherwise known as BIDs, have designated task forces to help visitors make their way safely after dark, with some BIDs, such as South Park’s Social District, providing escorts up until 11pm. BIDs patrols also chase away vagrants and unsightly characters but do not make arrests. They are our first line of defense, patrolling our city day and night.
Staying in the Late Night Lights
Avoid walking alone late at night; if you must, walk on well-lit streets, and consider using ride-sharing services or taxis for door-to-door transportation. Should you be confronted by a robber, your personal safety is more valuable than your possessions, so don’t resist; comply with their demands and report the incident to the police immediately afterward.
Get to Know Your Security Guards
No doubt as Downtown LA prepares for the Olympics, and talks of hospitality zones and places open until 4am are in the works, more businesses will open, more visitors will come, and more and more security guards will hit the streets.
Making sure your security guard can recognize you may seem like a little thing, but them being able to differentiate you from a stranger is paramount. A guard who recognizes you can quickly identify someone who doesn’t belong, like an unauthorized person trying to access your building or a suspicious individual loitering near your business.
If you’re in distress, a guard who knows you by sight is more likely to notice and react immediately. When a guard is familiar with the regular occupants, they develop a baseline understanding of normal activity. Any deviation from this norm becomes more apparent, improving their ability to detect and deter potential threats.
The best thing about getting to know your security guards is they may provide a sense of personalized security, offering a greater sense of comfort and safety.
Demand Graffiti Prevention and Cleanup
There’s a thin, spray-painted line between artistic expression and vandalism. On many occasions, street art murals may be welcomed and even commissioned by local businesses and city officials. If only there were some way to regulate who paints what and when and to make sure the art is respected… but there’s not. Instead, thousands of unstoppable street art/vandals (whichever you prefer to call them) are constantly looking to leave their brand across the city.
Photos by Salvador Avila
In fact, street artists, taggers, and vandals agree they leave their art knowing it’s temporary. Being “buffed out” or tagged over is just a finishing touch. In fact, graffiti art is much more of a fixture in our everyday lives; most of it goes unnoticed, trapped in the subliminal. Stickers on a light post, a spray-painted window on a historic building high above the city, an obscure tunnel on 2nd or 3rd Street. Yet, these tags become far more noticeable when they are covering a freeway sign, defacing ground-level facades, burned into windows, or wrapped around three massive skyscrapers overlooking the entire city.
Kirk Gaw, a longtime resident of Downtown LA, commented, “As a community, we have to do better with asking our private security to walk the perimeters more often.” Kirk went on to say, “I stick to asking our building security people to do their jobs better. Not fair for residents and BID Security to do everything.”
Downtown advocate LN Tilman stated, “There used to be honor amongst taggers; they avoided murals.”
She’s not wrong. The repeated tagging of a mural honoring such a prominent figure and hero is uncommon. So far, after 5 years, other murals in dedication to Kobe Bryant have gone relatively untouched. Such as the case of Social District’s Kobe mural on 11th and Hope, the Arts District mural at Alameda and 4th, and Sloe Motion’s sister tribute mural in the Fashion District.
According to community leaders, the job of graffiti cleanup falls into the hands of the property owner, with most of our city’s district owners responding to unwanted street tags through their individual business development districts within a matter of days. The city and county responses… maybe not so quick. Once again, hats off to the BIDs.
Avoid Certain Parts of Town
When navigating a large city like the DT, a key aspect of this is being mindful of the areas you find yourself in. Some parts of the city, regrettably, have become widely recognized for consistent drug trafficking and related criminal activity, often characterized by visible open-air drug markets and a higher presence of illicit trade. These areas, unfortunately, see an increased likelihood of encountering drug-related incidents and associated risks, making it particularly important to exercise heightened awareness and, if possible, avoid venturing into them, especially if you are unfamiliar with the specific locale or if it’s after dark.
Get a Pooch.
Having a dog in the city can offer a unique layer of personal safety, though it’s certainly not a foolproof solution. Their presence can be a strong visual deterrent; many people are less likely to approach someone accompanied by a dog, especially a medium to large breed. Beyond their intimidating presence, dogs possess heightened senses. Their acute hearing and sense of smell mean they often alert you to unusual sounds or approaching strangers long before you’d notice. This early warning system can give you crucial moments to assess a situation, change your route, or take other precautionary measures. Regular dog walks also Think of it as having an extra set of eyes and ears and a furry bodyguard all rolled into one. Also, don’t forget the extra doggie bags.
Timing is everything. And it’s true, anything can happen in the big city, but by proactively adopting safety measures and engaging with community resources like the BIDs and local security personnel, residents and visitors can better empower themselves to navigate Downtown LA with greater confidence and personal security.
