Recent La Jolla Break-Ins Lead to Increased Security for Businesses
A recent string of La Jolla break-ins are causing business owners in the Village to become concerned about security during the holiday season.
Reportedly, at least four shops were broken into during the early morning hours of Nov. 28, according to NBC San Diego. They included Burger Lounge, Box Brothers, and at least two nail salons in the area.
The San Diego Police Department, which is investigating the La Jolla break-ins, said that there appears to be at least three suspects at the center of the recent heists.
As part of their investigation, the SDPD said that they were notified about a stolen vehicle in Hemet that had items stolen from shops around downtown La Jolla. Local police arrested one suspect in connection to the stolen vehicle, and authorities are currently evaluating whether that person is linked to the La Jolla break-ins.
Other than that, no other arrests have been made for the La Jolla break-ins.
Business owners throughout La Jolla are now on high alert after the smash-and-grab jobs last week. One resident said that seeing broken glass across the floor was frightening because it “felt like we were not in La Jolla anymore.”
The La Jolla Village Merchants Association have shared a few tips for business owners to shore up their security during the holiday season, including:
- Investing in security systems
- Keeping stores well-lit
- Reinforcing windows and doors
- Displaying security signs to dissuade crime
- Establishing relationships with local law enforcement
This is not the first crime wave to occur in La Jolla. A few years back, there was a string of thefts of catalytic converters parked along La Jolla streets.
With all that being said, however, San Diego crime rates are generally very low relative to most of the U.S., and this is especially true for the La Jolla area.
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
