Violent Crimes Decline in Most Area Counties

Violent crimes dropped in sheriffs’ jurisdictions in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties last year, but increased slightly in San Bernardino County, the state attorney general’s office said Tuesday.

Property crimes climbed in all four counties, according to data released by sheriffs’ departments. Crime figures were not released for Ventura County.

Statewide, the overall violent crime rate fell 3.1%, while the number of property crimes reported rose 2.8%, officials said.

“The decrease in violent crime is evidence of the fine job by members of police, sheriffs’ and district attorneys’ offices throughout the state,” Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer said. “In contrast, an increase in property crimes is something we expect to see during difficult economic times.”

Lockyer said an increase in auto thefts led last year’s statewide increase in property crimes. Pomona police reported a 34.8% jump in stolen cars, and Inglewood police reported an increase of 26.8%.

In Los Angeles, the homicide rate dropped 21.6% in 2003, with a drop of 5.4% in the overall rate of violent crimes.

Data released two weeks ago showed that during the first quarter of 2004, the homicide rate in the city began to climb again, although violent crimes as a whole continued to drop.

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton said that the resurgent homicide rate in 2004 was a cause for concern, but that it was too early to tell whether it jeopardized his crime reduction goals.

The figures reported Tuesday for counties included only data from unincorporated areas and from cities that contract with the various sheriffs’ departments. Data from incorporated cities that have their own police departments were not included in the countywide figures, although they were included in the statewide figures.

In Los Angeles County, violent crimes reported by the Sheriff’s Department dropped 6.3% from 8,504 in 2002 to 7,972 in 2003. Homicides bucked the trend, increasing 7.4%, from 135 to 145. But forcible rapes dropped 16.7%, from 270 to 225; robberies dipped 8.4%, from 1,918 to 1,756, and aggravated assaults were down 5.4%, from 6,181 to 5,846.

Property crimes reported by the Sheriff’s Department increased 6.9%, from 14,041 in 2002 to 15,010 in 2003. Although burglaries were down 4%, from 5,124 to 4,921, vehicle thefts climbed 14.2%, from 5,435 to 6,207; and grand thefts increased 11.5%, from 3,482 to 3, 882.

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department, said Sheriff Lee Baca was pleased with the drop in violent crime, “but there are challenges ahead that still must be met.”

In Orange County, where Lockyer’s office said some figures may be underreported, the Sheriff’s Department said violent crimes dipped a scant 0.5%, from 212 in 2002 to 211 in 2003. Homicides increased from one to four, rapes from eight to nine and robberies from 37 to 38, but aggravated assaults dropped from 166 to 160.

Property crimes reported by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department increased 12.9%, from 874 in 2002 to 987 in 2003. Burglaries were up 6.6%, vehicle thefts up 19.3% and grand thefts up 14.6%

In Riverside County, violent crimes reported by the Sheriff’s Department were down 2.3%, from 2,430 in 2002 to 2,373 in 2003. Homicides dropped from 37 to 28, rapes from 114 to 85 and robberies from 326 to 304, but assaults edged up from 1,953 to 1,956.

Property crimes reported by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department climbed 11.3%, from 7,279 in 2002 to 8,102 in 2003. Burglaries were up 2%, vehicle thefts up 13.2% and grand thefts up 24.4%.

In San Bernardino County, violent crimes reported by the Sheriff’s Department increased 2%, from 1,109 in 2002 to 1,131 in 2003.

Homicides dropped from 35 to 32, rapes from 75 to 55 and robberies from 240 to 229, but assaults climbed from 759 to 815.

Property crimes reported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department rose 8.7%, from 5,010 in 2002 to 5,445 in 2003.

Burglaries were up 5.5%, vehicle thefts up 12.2% and grand thefts up 10.5%.

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Regional crime statistics

On Tuesday, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer released preliminary 2003 crime statistics as reported by county sheriff’s departments. The four Southern California counties listed below all experienced higher levels of property crimes than in 2002, though all but San Bernardino saw a decline in violent crimes.

Crimes reported by county sheriff’s departments:

Violent crimes Property crimes 2002 2003 change 2002 2003 change Los Angeles 8,504 7,972 -6.3% 14,041 15,010 6.9% Orange* 212 211 -0.5% 874 987 12.9% Riverside 2,430 2,373 -2.3% 7,279 8,102 11.3% San Bernardino 1,109 1,131 2.0% 5,010 5,445 8.7%

* Orange County figures may be underreported. Source: California attorney general’s office