Residents of the upscale Los Angeles neighbourhood Larchmont Village have voiced frustration over what they describe as an increasing number of sex workers operating in the area. Locals claim they are finding used condoms and sanitary products on the streets and witnessing altercations between sex workers and clients.
One resident, identified only as Larry, told KTLA that he regularly cleans up discarded condoms each morning. “I have to come out in the morning and scoop up used condoms with semen coming out of them,” he said. “You can’t imagine how disgusting it is, and it’s daily.” Another local, Marc Warzecha, reported that encounters sometimes turn violent, with sex workers and clients screaming at each other and becoming physical.
Larchmont Village is known for its leafy streets, boutique shops, and celebrity sightings, including Angelina Jolie, Sharon Osbourne, and Ellen Pompeo. However, the area is near the Figueroa Street corridor, where police regularly conduct operations against sex trafficking rings. Nearby neighbourhoods such as St Andrews Square, Windsor Square, and Koreatown have also reported an increase in sex workers.
Council member Hugo Soto Martinez said a multi-agency scheme involving police and the nonprofit Journey Out is underway to counter trafficking gangs. Meanwhile, the Larchmont United Neighborhood Association has organised a clean-up event starting tomorrow at the coffee shop Alfalfa, with free coffee and donuts, and a raffle featuring local business promotions.
Resident Karen Gilman said signs have been erected warning clients they are on camera, and some licence plates have been reported to the LAPD. However, police have urged locals to let them conduct their own operations. Larry expressed scepticism about police resources, saying, “Anything they can do would be great. But I think it’s patrolling. I don’t think the resources are there.”
