LB,
LA homicide rates continue to increase
By
Cameron Watt
On-line Forty-Niner
Los
Angeles and Long Beach, among other cities
in southern California, continue to see
their homicide rates climb, according to
statistics from the satate's attorney general
report.
Los
Angeles had a total of 653 homicides in
2002, up 11.1 percent from the previous
years. The staggering amount was enough
to push the rate beyond any other city in
the United States. Long Beach experienced
67 homicides in 2002, up 19 homicides from
2002. Long Beach also reported a 6.2 percent
increase in violent crime. Los Angeles county
saw the largest raise in rates, reaching
135 killings, up 25 percent from 2002.
The
rates were not centralized in the Los Angeles
area, the report also detailed an overall
11 percent increase in homicides for the
major cities and counties of California,
and major crime was up 3.8 percent.
The
report surveyed 78 major regions with populations
of 100,000 or more. As a whole, these regions
reported 1,842 homicides, 179 more than
2001. These figures are eye opening considering
that homicide rates in California dipped
30 percent in the five-year span between
1996 and 2001. In 1999, Los Angeles reported
its lowest homicide rate ever, with 414
killings, almost 240 less than last year.
This
year is beginning to show signs of a reversal
in the rates. As of early September,
the Los Angeles Country coroner's office,
that serves 9.8 million people, reported
729 killings, according to NBC4-TV.
If measured by a monthly average, that shows
a 12 perfent decrease than the rates from
last year throughout the county.
Experts
blame the rate increase on California's
weak economy and Los Angeles' continued
gang violence problem Both LAPD and LBPD
assert gang violence plays a key role in
the numbers because a simple miscommunication,
like an item of clothing or hand gesture,
can lead to fatal consequences. This month's
shootings at a nearby high school in Woodland
Hills, which left three innocent students
wounded, demonstrate the problem. Also,
as is common with territorial gang violence,
the retaliation from a rival gang around
the area near the original crime scene causes
the numbers to climb.
Long
Beach, known for its diversity, also has
been known by residents, police and even
rap music for some of its more dangerous
areas. A tourism Web site that encourages
members of its to community to post messages
on locations for a "perfect vacation"
(www.virtualtourist.com) offers advice to
crime-weary travelers about Long Beach.
The consensus among those who wrote in was
to be careful around the areas of north
Long Beach and the region west of the 710
Freeway, especially at night.
The
University Police, in continuing their effort
to keep students safe, have established
escort services and installed code blue
telephones for additional protection. The
police also strongly suggest that students
become familiar with the campus by knowing
well-lit areas and avoiding loitering in
more secluded areas of campus.
According
to statistics released by University Police,
theft and burglary were by far the most
common crimes on campus. While statistics
show numbers decreasing for burglaries,
from 96 to 46 in two years, theft of motor
vehicles have stayed relatively stagnant,
48 for 2002.
Despite
the numbers, many students feel safe in
and around the Long Beach area.
"Of
course I feel safe here," Aaron Seligman,
a junior sociology major said. "The
police here make sure that they are seen
at all times. I don't think anyone
who feels unsafe here has taken advantage
of the services provided to them."
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