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ANAHEIM : Violent Crimes Fall, Theft Up, Police Say

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Violent crime in the city was down in virtually all categories last year, while significant upturns were recorded in robbery and car theft, according to a report prepared by the Police Department.

The analysis, prepared for City Council review tonight, shows a nearly 17% drop in homicides and sexual assaults in 1990 from the previous year. Police, however, say they are struggling to contain robberies, which jumped by about 30%, and car thefts, up 10%.

Sgt. Chet Barry said population increases in municipalities throughout Southern California during the past several years have sparked increases in crimes against property. And while the number of murders dropped by five in 1990, Barry said the 25 homicides recorded reflected only a modest drop from the city’s all-time high of 30 in 1989.

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“The average (number of murders for the year) used to run between 11 and 16 in the early ‘80s,” Barry said. “This year is only a slight decrease. It had been up so high.”

Robberies involving the use of firearms and other dangerous weapons were up markedly, with a 41% increase recorded in knifepoint robberies.

In sex crimes, police recorded 14 fewer rapes in 1990 and five fewer attempted rapes.

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