LAPD Chief: Violent Crime Up 9 Percent In L.A.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck says violent crime is up 9 percent in the city this year but the overall crime rate has fallen by 3 percent.
City News Service says Beck gave the figures to the Police Commission Tuesday.
With two months left in the year, the number of homicides was up 4.5 percent compared to the same period in 2013. Rapes are up 12 percent.
However, Beck says the rise in violence appears mainly driven by a 20-percent jump in aggravated assaults, possibly tied to domestic violence.
Overall property crime fell 6 percent, gang crime dipped by 8.2 percent, and while there were more traffic collisions, the number of deaths and serious injuries from hit-and-run accidents was down sharply.
There've been 23 police shootings, a 37-percent dip.
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