Many OC Cities Report Drop In Violent Crimes
ORANGE COUNTY (CBS) — Many cities across Orange County are reporting a drop in violent crime for the first six months of the year.
The numbers are consistent with Federal Bureau of Investigation reports on a nationwide drop in violent crime.
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Santa Ana Police Corporal Anthony Bertagna said murder, forcible rape, robbery and assault have taken a dip, even as the department loses officers. The city reported 687 violent crimes in the first half of 2011, down from 763 in the same period of 2010.
Bertagna believes it will only get better.
"These statistics are a year behind and this past year we've continued to go down so we're looking at a banner year next year, as well."
Fullerton authorities report violent crimes totaled 167 -- down from 217 last year.
Irvine Police Lt. Julia Engen said the nation's safest city just got safer. That city had just 58 violent crimes in the first half of 2011. During the same time last year, there were 64 similar crimes reported.
"We credit our relationship with the community for working with us in keeping those numbers down."
There was an area, however, that bucked the fortunate trend -- a sharp increase in car burglaries across the county.
