Statistics Show Decline in Violent Crime in L.A. for 5th Straight Year

Carrying a promising trend into its fifth year, violent crime dropped across Los Angeles in the first half of 1996, with nearly every police station showing declines in either homicides, rapes, robberies or assaults.

The latest Los Angeles police crime statistics, which mirror state trends, show a 5.1% decrease in violent crime from January to June of this year contrasted with the same period last year. Overall reported crime, including car thefts and burglaries, fell 8.7% in the first half of the year, the statistics made public Tuesday show.

The number of killings citywide were nearly identical to last year--378 compared to 373 in 1995. But citywide declines in such crimes as robberies and assaults helped produce the overall drop.

Property crimes, including car thefts and burglaries, declined 10%, the LAPD data shows--a decrease police attributed to more sophisticated alarm systems and greater vigilance by neighborhood residents and activists.

“Crime is the number one issue on everyone’s minds,” said LAPD Cmdr. Tim McBride. “We have the community involved more than ever before, working in their neighborhoods to reduce crime. People are making it harder--plain and simple.”

Although LAPD officials were buoyed by the latest numbers, they expressed concerned about a continuing public perception that the city is unsafe.

“‘I think there’s still a fear of crime,” said Dan Hoffman, a spokesman for the Valley Bureau. “People don’t realize that L.A. is, in fact, better than most cities.”

The Hollenbeck station, which covers the Eastside, showed the most dramatic decline in violent crime--15.6%. Capt. Bruce Hagerty, who oversees the Hollenbeck station, said officers have focused heavily on the area’s high-crime streets with more patrols and task forces.

In the San Fernando Valley, all but the West Valley station showed declines in violent crimes. The Devonshire station, which covers an area that includes Northridge and North Hills, showed the sharpest decrease--nearly 12%.