LB Violent Crimes Year To Date Up Almost 6%, Property Crimes Up A Little Over 12% Citywide; In East Division (46% of LB East of Cherry to City Limit), No Increase in Violent Crimes But Property Crimes Up Almost 22% Over Last Year

In terms of property crimes (residential, garage and auto burglaries, auto theft, bike theft and petty theft), Commander Beckman said East Division's property crime total year to date is up "almost 22%" while citywide property crime is up "a little over 12%" from what it was last year at this time. [Specific figures weren't cited.]

"What this tells us is that East Division, which comprises 46% of the city, is driving our property crime numbers, so we're doing everything we can to impact that," Commander Beckman said.

Commander Beckman noted that in the area from Atherton St. to the 405 freeway, and from Lakewood Blvd. to 405 freeway, in April alone there were eleven reported auto burglaries, six of which involved smashed windows. One occurred in a church parking lot...and Commander Beckman noted that some churches have been targeted while Sunday services are taking place. The victims' losses included IPODs, cameras, laptops, two third-row seats, a gold watch, a DVD player, a gold watch, golf clubs, jewelry, purses and car batteries. Commander Beckman urged residents not to leave valuables in their cars, especially in plain view.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, in mid-May a father attending his son's musical concert at Minnie Gant Elementary School (within the same area north of Atherton, east of Bellflower Blvd.) had his car burglarized in the school's parking lot...which means he'll be included in statistics in next month's crime reports.