The Brief

SoCal law enforcement agencies are getting a sizable funding boost to fight "smash & grab" robberies, to the tune of $267 million.

Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are each slated to receive more than $15 million, among the largest awards.

The details

It's touted as the state's "largest single investment to combat organized retail crime," and more than $267 million were approved this week by the Board of State and Community Corrections to clamp down on the crime across the state.

The money will go to selected law enforcement agencies and district attorney's offices.

“Enough with these brazen smash-and-grabs. With an unprecedented $267 million investment, Californians will soon see more takedowns, more police, more arrests, and more felony prosecutions. When shameless criminals walk out of stores with stolen goods, they’ll walk straight into jail cells,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

Breakdown of funding

Here's a breakdown of where some of the grant money will go.

Los Angeles County:

• LAPD — over $15.5 million
• Sheriff's Department — over $15.5 million
• Santa Monica Police Department — over $6.1 million
• Beverly Hills Police Department — over $4.5 million

Orange County:

• Sheriff's Department— over $15.1 million
• Anaheim Police Department — over $6.1 million
• Irvine Police Department — over $5.4 million
• Costa Mesa Police Department — over $3.5 million

Ventura County:

• Sheriff's Department— $15.6 million

Riverside County:

• Riverside County Sheriff, Jurupa Valley Station — over $2.2 million
• Palm Springs Police Department — over $4.5 million

Why now

Retailers across California have been hit by flash robberies committed by large, coordinated group of people. They'd rush into a store, take as much merchandise as possible before fleeing the scene.

In Southern California, victims range from large mall staples like Macy's to independently owned shops selling everything from bikes, sneakers, to jewelry.

In August, the city of LA announced a cross-functional task force, bringing agencies including local law enforcement, city attorney's offices, the U.S. Marshals together to address the spate of robberies.

What's next

The new $267-million grant will be distributed to recipients starting Oct. 1.

Go deeper: Here's What You Need To Know About The Series Of Flash Mob Burglaries In LA

Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027. 

At a community meeting Thursday night at MacArthur Park Elementary School, officials said fence installation is now expected to continue through fall 2027, overshooting the previously announced spring 2027 completion date.

Thursday’s meeting highlighted the divide over the city’s plan to fence off MacArthur Park, with tensions rising during public comment. The Los Angeles Police Department says the fence will make drug enforcement easier, while some in the community who volunteer around the park questioned whether it will improve safety enough to justify the cost.

The city has allocated $2.3 million for the project, but officials have not said whether that will cover the full cost.

Installation of the green metal fence around the park’s perimeter is expected to begin in November and take about a year. A second phase, adding decorative elements to the fence, is planned for fall and winter 2027. Officials said the schedule could change because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

The park is expected to remain open during construction.

Capt. Ben Fernandes with the LAPD’s Rampart Division said the fence would create a barrier along Alvarado Street and other areas where officers have seen people using narcotics. That would allow police to focus more of their enforcement efforts inside the park, he said.

“So if people are going deeper into the park to use, that’ll make it easier for us to go in and do enforcement on them and arrest them for that use,” Fernandes said. 

MacArthur Park will close every night once an 8-foot-tall fence goes up around the green space, with Los Angeles police officers sweeping the park for encampments and people sleeping there before the gates shut. The Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners approved the plan Thursday.

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LA Recreation and Parks

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“I’ve been an officer for 29 years, and I’ve always known I can go buy drugs there, and I did as a narcotics officer. So what I’m saying is, we are trying to make it not convenient,” he added. 

Fernandes also said the city plans to enhance the park’s existing camera network. LAPD officers and Los Angeles Park Rangers will be able to monitor the cameras from their respective stations, he said. City officials are still evaluating whether additional cameras will be needed to address blind spots in the park after construction is complete.

Ariana Walker, who visits MacArthur Park every Saturday with a group of friends who pool their own resources to distribute food and hygiene kits, questioned whether the city had shown that the fence would improve safety and how much it would cost to maintain.

“The fence is a $2.3 million fence at the base level,” she said. “And they haven’t given us any indication of how much more it’s going to cost for upkeep, to keep anybody safe. There’s no conclusive evidence that a fence is going to stop crime the way that they’re suggesting.”

The meeting grew tense when John Alle, a local property owner whose family owns the building that houses Langer’s Delicatessen across the street from the park, objected to having his comments read from a written comment card rather than speaking directly to officials. Alle has been a vocal critic of the city’s response to drug activity and public safety concerns around MacArthur Park.

He was allowed to comment during the meeting and said the city needs to take a tougher approach to drug use and sales around the park. 

“We see knife attacks at all hours of the day. It’s out of control. And it’s not gotten any better,” he said. “We want to bring it back to where it was 15 or 20 years ago.”

Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027.

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Gary Coronado

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The LA Local

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Alle pointed to public events at the park, including an upcoming Día de los Muertos celebration and a Labor Day weekend picnic hosted by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman as positive developments for the space. But he added those events do not reflect conditions throughout the park.

Officials also outlined other planned improvements, including restoring access through the tunnels connecting the park’s north and south sides, making accessibility upgrades and providing free Wi-Fi for parkgoers. 

Residents who want to provide input on the fence’s decorative elements can email admin@themorcosgroup.com or call 310-479-4727 for more information.

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