Manhattan Beach police will hold a town hall Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Joslyn Community Center to address an armed robbery and safety concerns.
The meeting follows a Friday, Oct. 9, robbery in which two masked men allegedly held a couple at gunpoint at 6th Street and Manhattan Avenue around 8:30 p.m., according to Manhattan Beach News. An anonymous resident who spoke to the outlet said the attackers beat the male victim and struck him in the head with a gun.
A city spokesperson confirmed the robbery in a statement Sunday, Oct. 11, but said details could not be shared because the investigation is active. No arrests have been reported.
The town hall was also confirmed by Patch, which reported that residents can hear directly from the Manhattan Beach Police Department (MBPD) and discuss policing issues.
The robbery renewed calls for regular uniformed foot patrols in downtown and North Manhattan Beach. One resident told Manhattan Beach News that vehicle stops on Sepulveda Boulevard are "not addressing the true vulnerabilities for residents," adding that "foot patrols may not be as cool, but in a small area like downtown, they would be highly effective."
The Oct. 9 incident is the latest in a series of robberies in the downtown corridor. Pasha Fine Jewelry, on the 200 block of Manhattan Beach Boulevard, was hit by smash-and-grab robberies in June 2022 and March 2023. In the 2022 case, multiple armed suspects used hammers to break display cases and fled with merchandise.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed charges against four suspects in November 2025, as KTLA reported. Seven suspects were arrested in the March 2023 Pasha robbery, and the five adults in that case are serving time in state prison, according to Manhattan Beach News.
Manhattan Beach Mayor David Lesser said in November 2025, when the 2022 Pasha charges were announced, "These arrests demonstrate our commitment to bringing those who commit crimes in Manhattan Beach to justice."
The Oct. 21 town hall is open to residents who want to discuss the robbery, foot patrols and other policing topics. The Joslyn Community Center is at 1601 N. Valley Drive in Manhattan Beach.
