LAPD Detective: Avoid The City; 'We Don't Think We Can Keep You Safe'

The Los Angeles Police Department has been working major overtime this holiday season.

Los Angeles has become a fiery bed for thefts, smash-and-grab incidents, follow-home robberies and more in recent months.

Crime has always been an issue in the “City of Angels,” but this year it has drastically increased.

One LAPD Detective is speaking out about the chaos overtaking the city, even comparing it to the action-horror film, “The Purge.”

Los Angeles is comparable to “The Purge.”

In case you aren’t familiar with the terrifying film, “The Purge” centers around a dystopian society where one day out of every year ANYTHING GOES, as in, robbery, murder, theft, infidelity... you can commit any crime you want during the purge.

Quite scary when a law enforcement official is saying this is Los Angeles’ current reality.

LAPD Detective Jamie McBride, who is also the director of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, is warning tourists to stay away!

On Monday, December 6, McBride appeared on FOX News and said he’s telling people “don’t visit because we don't think we can keep you safe right now.”

When comparing LA to “The Purge” he said, “instead of 24 hours to commit your crime, they have 365 days.”

McBride isn’t blaming the LAPD for this issue. Rather, he blames the increase in crime and violence on things like Proposition 47.

Prop 47 changed sentencing guidelines, as well as the state’s zero-bail policy.

McBride says this puts criminals back on the streets “faster than the officers can finish the report.”

According to KABC, zero-bail policies mean, in some instances, suspects are quickly released from custody after they're arrested and booked for the crimes. The current zero-bail policy was designed to reduce jail populations during the pandemic.

On Tuesday, December 7, LAPD Department Chief Michael Moore spoke candidly about the current status of LA and the crime overrunning the city during a virtual press conference.

"Two years ago, a person arrested would be in custody and set to be arraigned in 72 hours," said Moore. "Today, that process is, with the zero-bail, that person is in and out back in the community and their next court appearance is an arraignment that's four or five months out."

Moore reports homicides have gone up 50% since 2019 and aggravated assaults have gone up about 16%.

According to Moore, nearly 200 robberies were reported last week alone.

LA-based chef Michael Voltaggio, of Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, took to Instagram to express his dismay.

He pleaded with Mayor Eric Garcetti for help.

He captioned the photo, “just a short walk up a hill from where 10’s of thousands of people are homeless, hungry, being robbed, attacked, stabbed, shot, reads a sign that says, “service above self.” @mayorofla we need some help out here.”

Last month, a mother walking her baby in a stroller in an affluent part of LA was followed by two men into the gated entry of her home.

The suspects cornered the woman in her driveway and demanded she give them her belongings.

She handed over her diaper bag and bottle cooler.