Beverly Hills Police Department hired security officers and increased officer patrols Dec. 6 following a rash of retail burglaries and the murder of a well-known philanthropist. Private armed and unarmed security guards were added to the department to patrol the business district and to guard infrastructure, according to Beverly Hills police Lt. Robert Maycott. “It’s just a force multiplier to provide for a safer community,” Maycott told The Epoch Times. Five new police officers were also added Monday. Los Angeles and surrounding cities have seen an uptick in crime waves involving armed robberies, retail thefts, and “follow-home” robberies, in which celebrities and wealthy residents were followed home from upscale shops and restaurants. In response, regional law enforcement agencies announced last week they had joined with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Highway Patrol to make several arrests related to the robberies and break-ins at local retailers. The move …