Crime Climbs 5% in County Areas

Homicides, auto thefts and assaults increased in the first six months of 1986 in the areas of Los Angeles County under the Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction, but rapes and gang killings decreased markedly, according to figures released Tuesday.

Overall, the report showed a 5% growth in crime for the first half of the year, compared to the first half of 1985.

However, a sheriff’s spokesman said the significance of such an increase is not really clear.

“It could be a reflection of the general increase in crime rates during the past decade,” the spokesman said. “Or it could be just a matter of different criteria for reporting of crime.”

For example, he said, much of the 31% increase in aggravated assault reports can be attributed to a new law requiring officers to make arrests in domestic violence cases that formerly were handled without official action.

“We don’t know the exact breakdown,” the spokesman said. “But we do know that the actual incidence of cases hasn’t shown any such marked increase.”

While homicides increased from 116 to 124, gang-related killings decreased from 30 to 23. However, attempted gang homicides rose from 36 to 49. And gang-related incidents of all kinds grew about 1.6%, from 6,763 to 6,875.

The county’s jail population increased a whopping 16%, from a daily average of 16,513 during the first six months of 1985 to a daily figure of 19,197 this year, reflecting an increase in arrests.

During the first half of the year, the report said, a total of 11,943 adults were arrested, compared with 9,572 during the first six months of 1985--an increase of nearly 25%. During the same period, juvenile arrests showed an increase of less than .2%, rising from 3,806 in 1985 to 3,868 this year.