LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The city's overall crime rate is down again, Police
Chief Charlie Beck said today, adding that the number of homicides has fallen
nearly 10 percent compared to last year.
``As of today, we are down over 6 percent in overall crime, 7.5 percent
in violent crime and almost 10 percent in homicides,' he said. ``We are down
in literally every category of Part I crime, (which are) the seven crimes that
are mandated to be reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the end
of the year.'
Statistics released by the Los Angeles Police Department show there were
198 homicides in the city between Jan. 1 and Aug. 28 -- 21 fewer than the
same period last year, a 9.6 percent decline.
The number of rapes dropped by 13.3 percent to 489; robbery slid 10.1
percent; and aggravated assaults fell 14.3 percent, according to the
department.
``This has been done in a time when economics and social trends would
indicate that this shouldn't happen, and I think it's a very positive story
about Los Angeles and what a great city that this is,' Beck said.
``We're the only major city of the three major cities in the U.S. to be
down in all categories of crime, and we certainly lead in crime reduction,' he
added.
Though overall gang crimes fell 12.2 percent, 31 more people were shot
in suspected gang crimes, an increase of 4.9 percent, according to the LAPD.