Violent Crimes Up 13% Citywide Stemming From LBPD’s North, West & South Divisions; Property Crimes Soar 23.4% In East Division.
LBPD crime statistics indicate that in the first three months of 2012, violent crimes and property crimes in Long Beach have increased by double-digit amounts compared to the same period last year.
In the first three months of 2012, violent crimes in Long Beach increased 13% over the same period last year, propelled by an increase in violent crimes in LBPD’s North, West, and South Divisions, while in East Division (from Cherry Ave. to east city limits) property crimes increased by a 23.4%, a figure driving LB’s property crimes up 15% citywide.
The data were presented at the latest East Division Community Gathering, a quarterly series of public meetings organized by East Division Commander Michael Beckman. The event was held in the new, state of the art conference facility room at the Veterans Administration Hospital.
Commander Beckman cited year to date statistics that he said are based on figures publicly available on LBPD’s website. [Data compare year to date figures for 2012 (through March) with the same period in 2011]:
Regarding violent crime (year to date as of March, 2012):
Violent crimes (category includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults including shootings) are UP 13%.
In East Division, robberies are UP almost 7%.
Commander Beckman said a number of East Division robberies stem from “loss prevention” actions at local stores. As an example, he said that if a suspect takes an item from a grocery store and the store’s loss prevention staff spots it and struggles with the shoplifter, it’s a robbery, but if the shoplifter manages to leave the store without a struggle, it’s a misdemeanor shoplifting. Other robberies include jewelery snatches (linked to the high price of gold)…and Commander Beckman recommended that residents be discreet about the way they display their jewelry.
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