The city of Beverly Hills pushed back this week after President Donald Trump claimed residents intentionally leave their cars unlocked to avoid damage from thieves.
Speaking in the Oval Office during remarks about crime in U.S. cities, Trump said residents in the wealthy Los Angeles suburb take extreme measures to safeguard property. “They leave their trunk open for their car because they know they’re gonna be vandalized,” Trump said. “They don’t want the trunk ripped off in order for them to steal what’s in the bag. They leave the doors open, so when they go in to steal the radio or whatever they take, that they don’t rip off the door.”
Trump made the comments while defending his decision to deploy National Guard troops to cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., saying local leaders had failed to restore order.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta dismissed the remarks, saying, “Unfortunately, he doesn’t make fact-based, evidence-based decisions. He has an agenda.”
In a statement, Beverly Hills officials said they are not aware of residents leaving vehicles unsecured to prevent break-ins. Crime statistics show auto thefts have risen over the past three years, while overall crime in the city increased in 2022 and 2023 but declined in 2024.
Some locals said Trump’s characterization does not reflect their experience. “I was just genuinely confused. I don’t think that’s true. I’ve never heard of anybody I know doing that,” said longtime resident Pria Zandi. “It’s not an issue that anyone worries about.”
Others suggested the comments were politically motivated. “I think he just has it out for California in general, you know, with the governor and him going back and forth,” said Marty Colon. “Anything that he can do to bring more attention and try to make this city seem worse than what it really is, it seems like that’s what he’s doing.”
Santa Monica resident Ed Hachar agreed, saying, “I think he’s overdoing it. There’s no need for military to be on our streets.”
Trump has previously singled out Beverly Hills, making similar claims about crime at a Republican National Convention event in Orange County. In both cases, he did not cite law enforcement sources.
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