$1 Million Cash Theft Reported During Kid Drop-Off at Martyrs
Sep 19, 2024 10:37PM ● By Mb News Staff
(This image was created by AI)
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect comment from MBPD. See below.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department laid a tantalizing mystery on local residents on Thursday afternoon.
As if it were just another ho-hum event among the week's routine police responses, MBPD reported in their weekly crime summary:
"On 09/13/24 officers responded to the 1700 block of Laurel Avenue (American Martyrs School) regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim parked their vehicle along the curb in front of the gym off 15th Street. The victim went into the gym with their child and when they returned back to their vehicle discovered the rear passenger side window was shattered. The victim stated that a cardboard box containing approximately $1 million dollars was stolen [emphasis added]. Officers and the victim discovered a device appearing to be a GPS affixed to the vehicle."
So. Many. Questions!!!
They were driving a civilian vehicle, not an armored car?
Someone was tracking them on GPS? And then pulled a smash-and-grab at Martyrs?
The person had a million bucks in the car, but also had some routine kid drop-off duties?
On Friday morning, a Manhattan Beach Police Department spokesperson responded to questions from MB News:
1. Is this real? Yes,
this crime is real.
2. If so, is this the largest theft in Manhattan Beach history? It is unknown if this is the largest theft in MB
history.
3. What was the money for? To protect the rights of the victim, it’s not relevant
what the money was for.
4. Was the GPS put on by someone else unbeknownst to the driver? The GPS was not his and officers found it
while conducting their investigation.
5. What follow-up is being done? MBPD Detectives are actively
working the case, and they are asking anyone with information to call
Detective Ajdukovic at 310-802-5133.
Meanwhile, a typical week's crime report is rife with veiled warnings: A person left their car unlocked, with a Mac laptop on the front seat, and it was stolen. Lock your car. A person was gone for a week, but left a patio door unlocked. Their house was robbed. Lock your doors. And so on.
But this one doesn't quite fit in with the usual routine. What is the takeaway message here? Maybe "If you are thinking of carrying around gigantic amounts of cash in a cardboard box this weekend, at least wait til they find this perp and the coast is clear?"
Please, people, be reasonable, and take care. And again, if you have any information, please call Detective Ajdukovic at 310-802-5133.
