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News
LB Total Crime Citywide In First Half '03 Up 4.1%; Murders & Res Burgs Drop; Comm'l Burgs & Auto Burgs Up; Detailed Neighborhood Data Pending
(July 24, 2003) -- LB total crime in the first half of 2003 increased 4.1% citywide, pushed upward mainly by increases in commercial and auto burglaries. Murders dropped from 32 (in the first half of 02) to 19 (first half of 03), a decrease of 38.7%. Residential burglaries also fell.
Detailed neighborhood crime data, which show specific parts of the city impacted, are pending.
Because citywide data mix safer parts of the city with areas disproportionately crime impacted, LBReport.com will (as we have in the previous years) post neighborhood and Council district crime data when these are released.
The data below reflect reported crimes citywide for the first six months of 2003 compared to the first six months of 2002. Some salient points, followed by details below:
For the period from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2003 compared to Jan 1. to June 30, 2002:
- LB total reported crime increased 4.1%. There were 19 LB murders in the first 26 weeks of 2003 compared to 32 in the same period in 2002, a decrease of 38.7%. (The murder decrease was concentrated in the 2d quarter; from April 1-June 30/03, there were 5 murders compared to 14 in '02, a decrease of 64.2%.)
- LB Total Part 1 (violent/serious crimes) against persons and property combined increased 4.9%, mainly from comm'l burglaries (up 22%), auto burglaries (up 16.4%) and petty theft (above and below $50 up roughly 10%).
- LB residential burglaries continued to fall (down 15.8%) along with residential garage burglaries (down 10.4%).
- LB Part 2 (other) crimes increased 4.9%.
In a written release, LB Chief of Police Anthony Batts said:
We are very pleased with the decrease in murders and robberies during the second quarter of 2003. These reductions are a direct result of the combined effort of all the hard working employes of the Long Beach Police Department and other city departments who have joined forces with the community. We plan to maintain this efforts, and continue to address the areas where crime has risen over the second quarter. We want to continue sending the message that crime will not be tolerated in our city!"
Part 1 Crimes Against Persons
| Crime type | Jan-June 2003 | Jan-June 2002 | Change | % change |
| Murder | 19 | 32 | -13 | -38.7% |
| Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Rape | 75 | 62 | +13 | +20.9% |
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| Robbery | 713 | 725 | -12 | -1.6% |
| Aggr. Assaults | 956 | 939 | +17 | +1.7% |
| Total | 1,763 | 1,758 | -5 | +0.3% | |
Part 1 Crimes Against Property
| Crime type | Jan-June 2003 | Jan-June 2002 | Change | % change |
| Res. Burg | 779 | 926 | -150 | -15.8% |
| Res. Garage Burg | 215 | 240 | -25 | -10.4% |
| Comm'l Burg | 515 | 422 | +93 | +22.0% |
| Auto Burg | 2,164 | 1,859 | +305 | +16.4% |
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| Grand Theft | 553 | 522 | +31 | +5.9% |
| Petty Theft (>$50) | 668 | 604 | +64 | +10.5% |
| Petty Theft (<$50) | 851 | 769 | +82 | +10.6 |
| Bike Theft | 230 | 280 | +50 | -17.8% |
| Auto Theft | 1,890 | 1,780 | +110 | +6.1% |
| Arson | 94 | 107 | +13 | -12.1% |
| Total | 7.959 | 7,509 | +634 | +6.0% | |
Summary
| Crime type | Jan-June 2003 | Jan-June 2002 | Change | % change | | Total Part 1 Crimes | 9,722 | 9,267 | +455 | +4.9% |
| Total Part 2 Crimes | 7,665 | 7,431 | +234 | +3.1% |
| Citywide Totals | 17,387 | 16,698 | +689 | +4.1% |
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