Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

LAPD Steps Up DTLA Beats, Justifies Jaywalking Tickets

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

dtla-jewelry-dist.jpg
Downtown's Jewelry District (Photo by Alberto Cueto via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
()


Downtown's Jewelry District (Photo by Alberto Cueto via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
For holiday shoppers searching for bargains and buys in Downtown Los Angeles, the LAPD wants you to know they've got your back. They've just announced stepped-up enforcement for the holiday shopping season, which means more cops on foot beats watching for thieves of all kinds.

The officers will be watching for the kinds of crimes that happen when a shopper isn't aware of their surroundings, like purse snatching and pickpocketing. Of course, if you're on the other side of the law, and have a mind to swipe some goods, well, the LAPD is watching for you, too! To combat the thefts, LAPD officers will be concentrating these enhanced walking beats in the Historic Core, Fashion District, and the Jewelry District.

The LAPD are also explaining why they are focusing on ticketing jaywalkers and people crossing against the DON'T WALK signs.

Support for LAist comes from

“Drivers and walkers who don’t follow the laws add to people’s frustration and compromise safety downtown when it gets crowded,” says Captain Todd Chamberlain, Commanding Officer, Central Community Police Station, citing three traffic accidents logged in DTLA last year during the holidays.

“This message is about education. We want to ensure everyone’s safety while visiting downtown,” Captain Chamberlain added. “We want to avert tragedies and enhance the shopping experience this season.”

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist