Long Beach : Crime Rate Drops 5.5%
After 15 months of steadily increasing crime, reported offenses dropped 5.5% during the second quarter, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Major crime was down from 8,333 to 7,714 offenses, or 7.4%, compared with the second quarter of 1986, because of sharp reductions in robbery, rape, home burglary, grand theft and bike theft. But murders were up from nine to 18, while auto theft and arson also increased.
Overall, police received 11,378 crime reports during April, May and June, compared with 12,039 for the same period last year. Less serious offenses were off 1.1%. Police attributed the reduction to a crackdown on street criminals such as drug addicts.
The drop follows a 12.8% increase in overall crime in 1986 and a 7.2% jump for the first quarter of this year.
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