These CA Beaches Have Highest Risk For Theft, Study Says

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Are you on the verge of planning a last-minute summer beach getaway?

While sun, surf and sand are touted as the mandatory requisites for planning a beach day, another lesser-known factor plays a heavy hand: beach safety.

To find out where beachgoers face the highest — and lowest — risk of theft, sports media company The Action Network analyzed property crime data across more than 500 beaches in the United States. California had the most theft-prone beaches nationwide — six in all.

According to the study, Newport Beach's Main Beach and the Wedge ranked as the no. 1 most theft-prone beaches in California — and #3 nationwide — posting an implied theft risk of 4.15 percent.

Newport Beach is closely followed by Santa Monica Beach which totaled 3.89 percent, Van Damme State Park which ranked 3.46 percent, and Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur which ranked 3.42 percent.

The scores are based on four categories of crime most relevant to beachgoers, including theft, robbery, vehicle theft and burglary.

"While appearing on this list doesn't mean a beach is unsafe, or that visitors should avoid it altogether, it does suggest that taking a few extra precautions, such as locking vehicles, keeping valuables out of sight, and avoiding leaving belongings unattended, is especially worthwhile," the report said.

Alternatively, several California coastlines were proved exceptionally safe.

Huntington Beach posted an implied theft risk of just .01 percent, while Moonstone Beach in Los Angeles County reported a risk of .03 percent.

Avila Main Beach in San Luis Obispo and El Capitan State Beach in Santa Barbara County also earned A+ grades, according to the report.