Everyone knows about the daily work of our Los Angeles Police Department, but in addition to answering emergency calls, taking crime reports and assisting with crime prevention, the LAPD also provides many handy tools and services, two of which have crossed our desk in the last 24 hours.
The first of these, and brand new, is a handy map clarifying new city rules about living in cars and other vehicles, and identifying the exact locations in the Wilshire Division area where living in vehicles is allowed, isn’t allowed, or is allowed only during certain hours. Â (Note: Â we haven’t seen a similar map yet for Olympic Division, but we will pass it along if/when we do.) Â Please check the map before reporting such activity to the police.
The second tool, which isn’t new, but which we just learned about and found quite fascinating, is a whole section of the LAPD website which is devoted to the unique subject of art theft.  The site contains lists of specific artworks (e.g. Andy Warhol prints, Marilyn Monroe photos, African statues, Academy Awards, etc.) which have been stolen in the city, a description of LAPD’s special Art Theft Detail, stories of art theft crimes that have been solved, and much more.  There’s even a page with tips for telling fake from real artworks that may be being offered for sale at any given moment.  Art thefts are the stuff of many great crime dramas…but they’re also a very real problem for art owners, buyers and sellers.  And, as we said…fascinating.
