Crime statistics for 2012, released by the Long Beach Police Department on Friday, show a 40 year-low for overall violent crimes in the city, but an increase of nearly 10 percent in property crimes from 2011’s statistics.
Despite quarterly reports throughout 2012 that showed violent crimes such as rape and murder were spiking compared with 2011’s record-low values, the Department’s end-of-the-year numbers demonstrate that there was actually a reduction in overall violent crimes.
Though there were 30 murders in Long Beach this year compared with 26 in 2011 and 115 rapes compared with 112 last year, the number of aggravated assaults went down 5.5 percent and robbery was down nearly 7 percent bringing the overall number of violent crimes down to what the Department says is a 40-year low. Violent crime overall is still 11.7 percent below the five-year average. Fourteen of the murders were investigated as gang related.
“Last year we as a department focused on violent crime, and our 40-year low is something for the city to really be proud of,” said Police Chief Jim McDonnell in a press release announcing the statistics. “As to property crime, we really need the community to step up and eliminate simple opportunities for property to be stolen. The department will always do what it can with the resources we are given, but we’re always better when we have the focus and support of the community.”
Property crimes–a category that includes all forms of burlgary, theft and arson–increased overall in 2012, continuing trends seen in many major cities across the nation. Petty theft of under $50, garage burglary and residential burglary saw the greatest increases last year while arson, commercial burglary and petty theft of over $50 went down. Auto theft incidents also increased greatly, by 19.1 percent, with 421 more incidents being reported in 2012 than in 2011.
Bike theft remained stagnant from last year’s numbers, but has nearly tripled since 2007.
“We are clearly seeing the effects of Realignment as it relates to property crime,” Mayor Bob Foster said, reminding residents that many of these types of crime are preventable with the help of the community. “As State policy has put thousands of additional criminals out on the street, resulting in increased property crime in communities throughout California […] I’m very proud of the Long Beach Police Department and our entire public safety continuum for achieving yet another reduction in violent crime, especially in an era of fewer financial resources.”
2012 Long Beach Crime Statistics on Scribd.