Report: Altadena Theft and Forcible Rape Increase, Crime Down Overall

Reported larceny theft and forcible rape increased in Altadena, while overall crime decreased, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department crime summary released Friday shows.

The summary displays reported incidents and crime rates for the first half of 2013—through June 30—compared to the same period last year and five years ago.

Reported violent crime in Altadena is down 42.6 percent compared to the first six months of 2012. Property crime is down slightly, by 1.5 percent. 

Reported Part I crimes are down 7.8 percent compared to the same time period last year and include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.

Seven incidents of forcible rape, a violent crime, were reported in Altadena so far this year, compared to six reported incidents by this time last year and three reported incidents in the first half of 2008.

Since reported rape incidents have increased but the numbers remain relatively small, the addition of one reported rape this year compared to last year marks a 16.9 percent increase, while the four additional reported rapes for 2013 so far compared to the same period in 2008 mark a 140.9 percent increase.

Larceny theft--different from grand theft auto--shows 201 reported incidents so far this year; an increase of 8.1 percent weighed against the first six months of 2012 and 13.8 percent compared to the first six months of 2008.

The reported crime that shows the most significant decrease in the first half of 2013 is robbery, which dropped 62.5 percent compared to the first half of 2012 and 76.4 percent compared to the first half of 2008.

No incidents of arson in Altadena have been reported so far this year.

Across Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department stations overall, reported violent crime is down 7.11 percent; property crime is up 1.69 percent; and Part I crimes are down .07 percent compared to the first half of 2012.

See more of the crime summary for Altadena during the first half of 2013 and previous years in the chart attached to this post or on page 38 of this PDF from the LASD: http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_148405.pdf

What do you think of these crime figures? Are you surprised? What crime are you most concerned about? Share in the comments.