Over the course of a three-day period, the Manhattan Beach Police Department reported there were five separate residential burglaries throughout the community. According to the Easy Reader News, Chief of Police Eve Irvine said a few years ago a suspect told them he came to the community to rob homes from San Bernardino mainly because people rarely lock their doors when they leave the home. In order to ensure the community is as safe as possible, the police department recently hosted a town hall meeting at the Joslyn Community Center to discuss various tactics they're using to make sure residents are safe.

One of the topics of the discussion was the department's "Lock It or Lose It" campaign, which urges community members to lock their car doors and homes when they are not occupying the space. By doing so, it is more than likely they will be able to avoid getting their car or home broken into. According to the Easy Reader News, about 92 percent of vehicle burglaries in the Manhattan Beach area could have been avoided last year. Fifty-four percent of the thefts involved unlocked doors and 38 percent of them involved valuables that weren't properly hidden.

Manhattan Beach crime prevention officer Stephanie Martin recently provided community members with some tips for avoiding home and vehicle burglaries. One of the most ways to avoid this type of situation is to ask neighbors to watch over the home prior to leaving for a vacation as well as notify the neighborhood watch captain. Another way to deter a burglar from targeting a home is by setting up all interior and exterior lighting on timers.

At the community town hall, Irvine added that by taking the extra step to lock all doors, residents will make the community a safer place.

"Let's help ourselves not become a victim," she said.

If anyone has been arrested for a robbery in the area, they will be sent to a local jail. It is more than likely that before they are able to be released, they will need to be able to post bail. If anyone needs help finding a bail bondsman in San Diego, Santa Ana, Orange County or Manhattan Beach, there are plenty to choose from.