2001 Crime stats released
(This is the first story in a two-part series that looks at crime statistics in Santa Monica over the past year. On Tuesday, the city’s police chief will offer some perspective on crimes committed in Santa Monica.) For the first time in eight years, major crimes have increased in Santa Monica.
There were 4,909 incidents last year, 215 more than the previous year — a 4.6 percent increase, according to the police department’s annual report.
Burglaries saw the largest increase — up 19 percent, from 602 in 2000 to 720 last year. Although burglaries increased, last year was the fourth lowest since 1956, when crime reports were made available. Residential burglaries increased 10 percent while non-residential burglaries increased 30 percent.
Robberies also increased significantly — up 16 percent over last year. In 2000, there were 268 incidents and last year there were 312. Just over half the robberies were committed using physical force and about 31 percent were committed with a gun.
Most of the robberies took place in streets, alleys and other public places. Commercial locations experienced 90 robberies and residential had only six.
But despite an increase, more violent crimes decreased slightly or remained the same. Rapes declined from 31 in 2000 to 24 in 2001, making it the second lowest year since 1966 when there were 11 incidents.
Two homicides occurred last year, the same as the previous year.
Aggravated assaults in 2001 decreased 8 percent, with 316 incidents. It hasn’t been that low since 1983 when there were 294.
Crimes against persons rose slightly, about 1.4 percent when compared to 2000, which saw an increase of 2.7 percent.
Crimes against property increased 5.1 percent, which partially reflects the increase in burglaries. Still, the 4,255 crimes against property is the second lowest since 1959 when 3,988 were reported.
Larceny, which includes crimes like shoplifting, bicycle theft, purse snatching and pickpocketing, rose 2 percent. Theft from autos rose significantly — from 1,157 in 2000 to 1,230 in 2001.
Bicycle thefts almost doubled — 196 in 2000 to 359 in 2001.
Motor vehicle thefts increased 6 percent, although the 515 incidents is the second lowest number recorded since 1965 when 477 were stolen. Of the vehicles stolen in 2001, 218 were recovered and 103 of them were recovered within Santa Monica.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 6, 2002. Read the original PDF.