GLENDALE : Assaults Rise, but Crime Dips Overall

The number of assaults reported in Glendale during the first half of 1994 increased 25% over last year, but police said last week that the number of major crimes reported overall has actually dropped about 9%.

According to statistics released by the Glendale Police Department, the number of robberies, burglaries and auto thefts all dropped considerably between January and June.

There were 164 robberies reported, 39 fewer than during the first six months of 1993. There were 636 burglaries, 241 fewer than in the first half of 1993; and there were 660 cars stolen, a decrease of 162.

Felony assaults increased from 133 during the same period in 1993 to 167 this year--a rise of 25.6%--but Jack Altounian, the Police Department’s crime analyst, maintains that the numbers do not indicate a major surge in violent crime in the city.

“The number of assaults in our city is still very low compared to other cities with populations over 100,000,” Altounian said.

“I don’t think Glendale is necessarily becoming more violent, but I would say that it seems there are certain elements in the society that may be becoming that way.”

Altounian said the department has not changed the way assaults are reported and the reasons for the increase is unknown.

Also listed in the city’s midyear crime analysis report were:

* Rapes, which decreased from 14 during the first half of 1993 to seven this year.

* Murders, of which there were four in the first half of 1993, and just one this year.

* Reports of stolen property, which rose from 2,101 in the first six months of 1993 to 2,152 this year, an increase of 2.4%.

* Arson, of which there were 37 reported incidents in the first half of 1993 and 22 in the same period this year, a drop of 40.5%.

In all, there were 3,470 major crimes reported in Glendale during the period, compared to 3,837 last year, a decrease of 367 incidents, Altounian said.