A Los Angeles Police Department detective said this week that tourists should avoid visiting Los Angeles over the holiday season because the department fears it cannot protect people from the crime wave currently sweeping the city.
What are the details?
Detective Jamie McBride — also head of the Los Angeles Police Department’s union — told Fox News on Monday that Los Angeles is like the movie, “The Purge,” where all crime is legal for 24 hours.
Smash-and-grab and follow-home robberies have been increasing at a rampant rate across the city, and McBride said that in Proposition 47 — which modified sentencing guidelines for nonviolent crimes — and the liberal state’s zero-bail policy are to blame for the continued lawlessness.
“We’re wondering how many times somebody has to be arrested here in L.A. before they stay in jail. It’s sad to say, but it’s almost safer to hang out with Alec Baldwin on a movie set than go shopping in Los Angeles right now,” he said. “That’s how crazy it is. It is so violent. We’re telling people don’t visit because we don’t think we can keep you safe right now. And that’s just sad to say.”
He added, “My advice to anybody considering coming to Los Angeles … is ‘Don’t’ … It is really, really out of control … It’s like the movie ‘Purge.’ Instead of 24 hours to commit your crime, these bad people have 365 days to commit whatever they want.”
He also took a swipe at California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for climbing crime rates across the state and said that district attorneys are practically “advocating for the criminals” with what he says are their bleeding heart policies that don’t want to convict those arrested for theft and robbery.
“We need to work on changing these laws back to make it tougher on crime,” McBride insisted. “We need to get rid of these so-called progressive district attorneys. They are advocating for the criminals. It’s almost like it’s shame on you if you’re a victim. It’s like it’s your fault, and that’s the way they see it … There’s a lot of cleanup to do, but we need to take back the streets. And to be honest with you, it shouldn’t matter if you’re a Republican or a Democrat. I think we should all want to feel safe in your home, and we should be tough on crime, and that’s where it starts. We have to start from the top and clean house all the way down.”
Earlier this month, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the COVID-19 pandemic was to blame for the recent rash of theft-related crimes.
Sarah Veenstra, an area resident who moved from Wisconsin to Los Angeles earlier this year, told KCAL-TV that the city has an eerie atmosphere these days.
“It’s pretty scary walking at night,” Veenstra admitted. “I genuinely thought it would be a safe area. It turned out not be as safe as I thought. I’m definitely, like, carrying something on me every time I leave the house when it’s dark out.”