Homeowners across California are fed up and feeling abandoned as burglaries soar under the disastrous public safety policies of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Mayor Karen Bass (D). With crime running rampant and law enforcement hamstrung by lenient rules and failed leadership, many residents say they’re left with no choice but to take matters into their own hands. As one frustrated homeowner bluntly put it, “This is why people need to start shooting.”
James Marzullo, a homeowner in Hollywood Hills, took matters into his own hands when a burglar broke into his home. Confronting the intruder at gunpoint, Marzullo held him there until law enforcement arrived. Frustrated by what he sees as a justice system that gives criminals a slap on the wrist while punishing homeowners for defending their families, Marzullo said he was tired of living in fear. He said it's wrong that homeowners are expected to stand by while criminals invade their homes, adding that if they protect themselves, they risk going to prison.
"We take pride in our city, yet it's turned upside down," he said. "I don't feel like there's enough police forces around, especially when you get on the Hills."
NEW: Homeowners say they’re fed up after skyrocketing burglaries due to the failed public safety policies by Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass with some residents deciding to take matters into their own hands—
— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) August 3, 2025
“This is why people need to start shooting”. pic.twitter.com/UgY5Ge0dMH
Following the break-in at Marzullo's home, police reported three more home break-ins through the night in the same area.
In 2025 alone, there have been 86 reported residential burglaries, with troubling trends emerging across California. Encino, an affluent Los Angeles neighborhood, saw a 40 percent spike in break-ins last year, including at least eight violent home invasions over just a few weeks. Many of these incidents involved masked intruders smashing windows while residents were still inside. Meanwhile, in Palos Verdes Estates, police have warned of a rise in so-called “dinnertime burglaries,” where thieves strike between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., often while homeowners are away.
Despite legislative action, critics argue that Gov. Newsom’s response fails to tackle the root causes of the surge in home burglaries. One central point of contention is his refusal to revisit Proposition 47, a 2014 measure that downgraded many nonviolent felonies, including property crimes, to misdemeanors. Opponents claim this has weakened accountability for offenders and fueled the ongoing rise in home invasions.