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# Panhandling sting busts five
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/see-murals-page-6-panhandling-sting-busts-five/
- Published: 2002-07-13T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:30:19.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Promenade, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Five people were arrested during a panhandling sting on the Third Street Promenade Wednesday.

The Santa Monica Police Department conducted the sting in an effort to curb aggressive panhandling, which has become a major issue for merchants along the Promenade. They say the behavior of some transients who follow people down the mall scares visitors away.

Officers in uniform and plain clothes spent about two hours on the outdoor mall waiting for people to continuously ask people for money. The operation resulted in five misdemeanor arrests. Three suspects were arrested for panhandling and two suspects were arrested for public intoxication and violation of a domestic violence restraining order.

The suspects arrested were transported to the Santa Monica jail and booked as charged.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071302.pdf?ref=smdp.com)