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By John Antczak

The Associated Press

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

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

鈥淭hey were able to hide inside the walkway area and tunnel their way in by tearing holes in the fence,鈥� police Sgt. Gordon Helper said.

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

鈥淲e can鈥檛 have anybody getting hurt here or injuring themselves or even a fatality,鈥� Helper said. 鈥淲e don’t want that to happen here.鈥�

The towers were going to house a hotel and luxury condominiums, but the project stalled in 2019 when the Beijing-based developer ran out of money, the聽Los Angeles Times聽reported.

The extent of tagging and vandalism began drawing attention in recent weeks, becoming a civic embarrassment in a high-profile area that includes Crypto.com Arena 鈥� home of major sports teams and the site of events such as the Grammys 鈥� as well as the Los Angeles Convention Center and the L.A. Live dining and events complex.

City Councilmember Kevin de Le贸n, who represents the area, has said a developer is needed to complete construction. By conservative estimates, one would need $500 million to buy the property and $1.5 billion to complete it, he said at a recent council meeting.