Crews take steps to secure graffiti-scarred Los Angeles towers left unfinished by developer

City crews have taken a first step toward securing an unfinished complex of downtown Los Angeles high-rises that have been vandalized with graffiti and used for dangerous social media stunts since the developer ran out of money

LOS ANGELES -- City crews on Friday took an initial step toward securing an unfinished complex of downtown Los Angeles high-rise towers that have been vandalized with graffiti and used for dangerous social media stunts after the developer ran out of money.

Workers began removing scaffolding protecting a temporary walkway that officials say said has helped helped trespassers enter the property.

“They were able to hide inside the walkway area and tunnel their way in by tearing holes in the fence,” police Sgt. Gordon Helper said.

The next step will be to install a better fence at the project, which is drawing significant police resources and where city leaders fear someone will die, especially after social media videos showed people BASE jumping — parachuting from the towers.

“We can't have anybody getting hurt here or injuring themselves or even a fatality,” Helper said. “We don't want that to happen here.”