Violent Crime Up in Los Angeles

While reported property crime in LA declined last year violent crime has increased according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The City News Service reports that so far this year homicides have increased 28%, robberies are up 9.5% and overall violent crime is 2.9% higher than last year. The interim Police Chief told the city’s Board of Police Commissioners last week that robberies with firearms are up by 2.9% while gang-related robberies jumped by 5.3%. The Chief also noted that residential burglaries are up 4.5%.  These increases, while not as high as 2022, reflect a growing concern that District Attorney George Gascon’s refusal to prosecute most property and drug crimes while undercharging violent offenders is fueling the violence on LA streets.  The county’s decision to eliminate cash bail and simply release suspects charged with crimes pending trial may also be a contributing factor.  It is likely that the drop in reported property crimes is due to the fact that most thefts are cite-and-release misdemeanors under California law.  In LA, even car thieves are routinely charged and released without bail the same day they are arrested. With absolutely no consequences for most property crimes fewer people and businesses see any value in reporting them. A ballot measure currently gathering signatures would, if adopted by voters this November, restore consequences for property and drug crimes.   The defeat of District Attorney Gascon by former Federal Prosecutor Nathan Hochman in this fall’s general election would put a real prosecutor in charge of combating crime in Los Angeles.