Overall rate down but homicides, rapes and burglaries increase
While the overall number of crimes reported to Santa Monica Police decreased last year, the number of rapes, homicides and burglaries increased, according to newly-released statistics.
There were 33 rapes or attempted rapes in the city in 2002 compared to 24 rapes or attempted rapes in 2001, a 38 percent increase. Homicides climbed from two in 2001 to eight in 2002. And in 2002, 737 burglaries were reported to the SMPD compared to 720 in 2001, a 19 percent spike. The Santa Monica Police Department released those figures and others this week, which altogether showed a 4.5 percent decline in serious crimes compared with 2001. It is the ninth year in a decade that crime has decreased in Santa Monica, said SMPD Chief James T. Butts Jr. 2001 was the only year that the crime rate spiked in the past decade. Crime rose 4.6 percent in 2001 compared with 2000, which was the lowest crime rate since 1963, Butts said. But now it appears that the city is back on track, he said.
“We had a hiccup and we are on a streak of decreasing crime,” Butts said.
In the homicide and rape categories, the majority of the perpetrators knew the victims.
In the rape incidents, 23 were committed by either an acquaintance, ex-boyfriend, boyfriend, ex-husband or friend. Only one rape suspect has not been identified by SMPD, Butts said.
Of the eight homicides, six were domestic disputes, while three of those were between married couples and ended in the husbands committing suicide after they killed their wives.
Another domestic-related murder was between a father and son. The son was convicted by a jury in October of second-degree murder. Also in October, two separate murders involved a boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend killing their current or former girlfriends.
All of the suspected murderers are either dead or under arrest.
On the subject of burglaries, Butts pointed out that the number of is considerably lower than what Santa Monica experienced decades ago.
He noted that in 1981, before the Third Street Promenade existed and with a thriving business district and millions of tourists visiting the city every year, there were 2,718 burglaries. In 1993, there were 1,511 burglaries. “It’s dropped 56 percent,” he said. “This is amazing to have such a low rate. We are being measured against ourselves and our community and that is a good place to be.”
Other serious crimes, including robbery, aggravated assault, larceny/theft and grand theft auto, decreased last year. These include: ■ Felony arrests declined by 3.7 percent, with 1,312 in 2002 compared to 1,362 in 2001. ■ Misdemeanor arrests increased 17 percent, with 2,950 in 2002 and 2,526 in 2001. ■ Incidents of grand theft auto also show a significant drop over the past decade. In 2002, there were 494 vehicles reported stolen compared to 1,754 in 1993.
Last year’s statistics show that the number of cars stolen in the city are about the same as they were in 1963 — when there were fewer cars, people and activity in Santa Monica.
Butts attributed the significant decrease to SMPD’s effort in curbing auto theft rings, which began in 1993. At the time, many high-end cars and Toyotas — because of their universal parts — were being stolen off the street and from the city’s parking structures.
A year after the SMPD began auto theft stings, incidents decreased by more than 500, Butts said. Robberies, or taking another person’s property by force or fear, decreased, with 299 in 2002 compared to 312 in 2001. “Those crimes tend to be more dangerous because a weapon will be used and it strikes fear into the general public,” Butts said.
He attributed the decrease to the SMPD’s “top notch” crime analysis system, which is able to establish patterns and identify series of robberies.
Last year, there were seven series that accounted for 36 robberies in Santa Monica. All of the robbers were arrested by the SMPD, except one, who was part of a gas station robbery spree.
Two suspects were arrested and convicted who are responsible for 10 gas station hold-ups last year. One fugitive remains at-large.
The “laser light” bandit was arrested and convicted for seven robberies at clothing stores in the city. Apparently, the robber used a laser light to threaten his victims.
Two men, who routinely wore hooded sweatshirts, were convicted for a series of nine robberies throughout the city. One suspect was convicted for a series of four robberies on the north side of the city.
A suspect is in custody for allegedly robbing two businesses on Main Street last year and another man was convicted of robbing Starbucks on 26th Street and Wilshire Boulevard last November. In that case, the suspect was involved in a series of robberies at coffee stores in Los Angeles, police said.
Three robberies involving carjackings with the suspects using a shotgun landed two men in jail — one has been convicted and the other is awaiting trial.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 7, 2003. Read the original PDF.