Executive Protection Essential as Crime Rises in Hidden Hills
Hidden Hills has seen a large increase in property crime in recent years.
The landscape of security for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) has shifted dramatically. Once considered optional or reserved for the world’s most visible celebrities, executive protection (EP) is now a fundamental requirement for those living in high-profile communities like Beverly Hills, Malibu, and Hidden Hills. While these areas have long been associated with luxury, privacy, and exclusivity, the rise in organized and targeted crime has made one thing clear: visibility and wealth now equate to vulnerability.
At MSB Protection, we study crime rates in areas where our protectees are present. Our commitment to understanding evolving crime patterns allows us to anticipate threats and implement tailored security solutions.
As crime patterns evolve, affluent neighborhoods are being impacted in ways that demand a more proactive, full-spectrum security solution. A security guard stationed at a vehicle gate is no longer sufficient. Instead, well-trained, situationally aware, and tactically capable EP teams have become essential for safeguarding lives, assets, and reputations.
Crime is Increasing Where You’d Least Expect It
We often think of affluent gated communities as impenetrable bubbles, insulated from the types of criminal activity that plague urban centers. However, data from the past five years tells a different story. A disturbing trend is emerging across Los Angeles’ most elite residential zones: crime is rising, and it’s becoming more targeted.
Beverly Hills: From Prestige to Predator Target
Between 2020 and 2023, Beverly Hills saw a marked increase in property and violent crimes. Residential burglaries fluctuated between 250 to 300 per year, with home invasions (burglaries while residents were home) reaching as high as 109 incidents annually. That’s nearly two home invasions per week in one of the most patrolled cities in California.
Robberies rose significantly too, with 69 incidents in 2023, a 25% jump from the year prior. These weren’t petty thefts; they were often armed, coordinated robberies targeting watches, jewelry, and luxury handbags in driveways, storefronts, and even inside private homes.
In one chilling example, Jacqueline Avant, wife of music executive Clarence Avant, was tragically shot and killed during a home invasion in 2021. The murder sent shockwaves through Beverly Hills and served as a brutal wake-up call: even fortified estates are not immune.
Malibu: Serenity Disrupted
Long perceived as a quiet beach town for the elite, Malibu has become a magnet for sophisticated criminals who exploit the area’s geography and lax local enforcement. In 2022 alone, there were 77 burglary cases, many of which involved vacant luxury homes being hit by organized rings using rooftop or balcony entry to bypass alarms.
Robberies peaked in 2021 with 15 reported cases – more than double the prior year. While those numbers may sound modest compared to urban centers, they’re alarming given Malibu’s low population density and concentration of high-value targets. Aggravated assaults also doubled from 2020 to 2021, and in 2023, actor Charlie Sheen was attacked in his Malibu home by a neighbor, illustrating that threats can be external or disturbingly close to home.
High-end theft and auto crime are equally prevalent. In 2023, Malibu saw over 300 property thefts, and vehicle thefts surged to 60 cases in 2021, often targeting exotic and luxury cars. For communities built on prestige and privacy, the data tells a sobering story: peaceful doesn’t mean protected.
Hidden Hills: The Gated Illusion
Even Hidden Hills—one of the most secure and exclusive communities in the U.S.—hasn’t been spared. From 2020 to 2023, residential burglaries more than doubled, rising from 5 to 12 incidents per year. In 2024, a notable attempted home invasion was only stopped due to the presence of private security.
Despite a perimeter gate and LASD patrol presence, Hidden Hills has seen a rise in coordinated burglary crews, often using advanced tactics to identify gaps in coverage. These are not random opportunists—they’re well-researched actors who understand the value inside these estates. In one 2023 case, robbers followed a vehicle into the community and attacked the resident as they exited their car.
This pattern of crime spreading into private, gated neighborhoods is a clear signal: perimeter security is not enough. Sophisticated criminals know how to bypass cameras, gates, and even community patrols. What they’re not as eager to face? Trained, armed EP teams prepared to respond in real time.
For an in-depth analysis of the Hidden Hills security situation and EP integration, check out this article.
Wealth Is a Beacon, Not a Shield
What these trends make undeniably clear is that wealth, status, and location are no longer shields against risk. In fact, they’re beacons.
From high-end watches to luxury vehicles, fine art, and digital assets, UHNWIs are more exposed than ever. Public records, social media, and real estate listings make it easy for bad actors to track a target’s whereabouts and routines.
The impact of attacks against executives doesn’t stop with the individual either. When UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot, the company’s stock fell 13% in a single day. The ripple effects of executive vulnerability can reach thousands of shareholders, employees, and stakeholders.
What Executive Protection Offers That Traditional Security Does Not
Security guards and community patrols have their place, but Executive Protection is a different breed. It goes beyond physical presence into strategic anticipation, personalized risk mitigation, and rapid, tactical response.
Here’s what knowledgeable EP teams provide:
- Customized Threat Assessments: Detailed evaluation of an individual’s lifestyle, travel patterns, and public exposure.
- Advance Work & Route Mapping: For daily routines or public events, mapping out secure pathways and contingency plans.
- Medical Readiness: Most professional EP agents are trained in trauma medicine, capable of saving lives in an emergency.
- Discreet Integration: Operating seamlessly within households or business settings, often doubling as personal assistants, drivers, or estate managers.
- 24/7 Real-Time Response: Unlike remote monitoring services, EP agents are physically present and able to respond immediately to evolving threats.
For example, one Beverly Hills client reported that the reduction in their artwork insurance premiums combined with the increased work productivity during secure commutes made their EP team “technically free.” That’s not hyperbole—for many, the return on investment in protection is tangible.
The Psychological Advantage
Beyond tactical value, having an executive protection team brings peace of mind. For many high-profile individuals, it’s not about paranoia—it’s about freedom. The freedom to enjoy a dinner out without scanning every table. The freedom to travel without wondering who’s watching the estate. The freedom to live a public life without sacrificing personal safety.
Children can play outside. Partners can run errands. Clients can arrive at meetings confident that logistics and safety are squared away.
That sense of calm? That’s worth everything.
Moving Forward: EP as a Lifestyle Standard
We are entering a new era where Executive Protection is no longer reserved for heads of state or A-list celebrities. It is a necessary infrastructure for anyone operating in the public eye or living in high-risk luxury environments.
If Beverly Hills, Malibu, and Hidden Hills can no longer guarantee protection through geography or gate codes, then residents must look inward to take control. 24/7, highly trained, situationally aware EP teams are no longer a luxury—they are an intelligent, strategic response to a shifting threat landscape.
Security is no longer about what might happen. It’s about being prepared for when it does.
Bottom Line:
Crime is rising. High-value targets are being chosen deliberately. And old-school security just isn’t enough.
Executive Protection is no longer optional. It’s essential.