The Santa Monica Police Department is ramping up its presence across the city this holiday season while offering residents practical advice to keep themselves and their belongings safe during one of the busiest times of year.
With shopping districts filling with visitors and packages arriving on doorsteps daily, police are urging residents to take simple precautions that can prevent theft and other crimes.
"Between checking your gift list, snapping photos, and taking in the sights, it's easy to get distracted," police said in a holiday safety message. "When you're in crowded areas, take a second to look up, stay alert, and keep track of your surroundings."
Police warned that pickpockets target crowded holiday shopping areas, taking advantage of distracted shoppers carrying more cash and merchandise than usual. Officials recommend keeping bags zipped and held close to the front of the body, avoiding storing phones or wallets in back pockets, and keeping bags on laps when dining or resting.
Vehicle security also remains crucial during the holiday rush. Police advise locking car doors every time, keeping windows fully closed, and placing shopping bags out of sight. Parking under good lighting provides additional protection.
Package theft continues to plague neighborhoods during the holiday delivery season. Police recommend tracking packages and bringing them inside promptly, shipping to staffed addresses when possible, and using secure pickup options or parcel lockboxes.
For residents traveling during the holidays, police suggest using timers for indoor lights to mimic typical routines, ensuring all doors, windows and side gates are locked, and waiting to post travel photos on social media until returning home.
Police also emphasized responsible celebration, encouraging those enjoying festive beverages to plan safe rides home and to watch out for friends.
Throughout the season, residents and visitors will see increased numbers of officers on foot, on bicycles and in marked units seven days a week across key areas including retail corridors, the Pier and Promenade, transit hubs and neighborhood centers.
The enhanced deployment aligns with the city's Realignment Plan, which prioritizes restoring public confidence, supporting business vitality and ensuring safe, welcoming public spaces.
"Our mission remains consistent: Protect public safety. Serve with fairness. Build trust through every interaction," said Lt. Lewis Gilmour.
The holiday strategy focuses on four core priorities: crime prevention and enforcement, addressing homelessness with compassion, traffic safety, and community engagement.
Holiday-focused efforts include high-visibility patrols in major retail corridors, strengthened presence at the Pier, Promenade and Santa Monica Place, and ongoing efforts addressing retail theft, burglary, robbery and disorder-related crime. Police are coordinating closely with business owners, private security and regional law enforcement.
The department's Homeless Liaison Program will increase coverage in high-traffic locations, working with county outreach teams and service providers while enforcing laws related to disorder, trespassing, narcotics and public safety concerns.
With heavier pedestrian and vehicle traffic during the season, police will focus on DUI and impaired-driving enforcement, increased visibility at high-volume intersections, and speed and crosswalk enforcement near shopping areas and school zones.
Officers will also participate in business walks, retailer outreach, residential security assessments, youth programming and community events throughout the season.
The department also announced it has received a $285,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to support enforcement and education programs aimed at reducing serious injuries and deaths on roads. The grant program runs through September 2026.
The funding will support DUI checkpoints and patrols, high-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations, enforcement focused on dangerous behaviors threatening people biking or walking, and operations targeting top violations causing crashes including speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
The grant will also fund community presentations on traffic safety issues, collaborative enforcement with neighboring agencies, and officer training including Standard Field Sobriety Test, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and Drug Recognition Expert certification.
"Through focused traffic enforcement and education, we're working toward a future where everyone will be safe on California roads," said California Office of Traffic Safety Director Stephanie Dougherty.
Residents who see suspicious activity are encouraged to call 911 for emergencies or 310-458-8491 for non-emergency dispatch.