Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck speak about crime statistics at a recent conference held at the 77th Division station in South L.A. | Daina Beth Solomon
The rate of assault in the city of Los Angeles increased 19.4 percent compared to this time last year, according to LAPD crime statistics announced yesterday. Rape has also increased 8.6 percent.
At the police commissioners meeting, Los Angeles Police Department Police Chief Charlie Beck said homicide, however, is going down: It has decreased 7.2 percent.
In South L.A., the numbers are going down for serious crimes. Homicide, rape, aggravated assault, burglary and theft are down 4.3 percent compared to this time last year.
Beck said the 19.4 percent increase in the rate of assault is likely primarily driven by an increase in domestic violence reports.
“It’s a grossly underreported crime which means even a small increase in willingness to report can lead to a large increase in the number of reports,” Beck said.
“This is a problem that has a lot of layers and I know many things we can do to reduce it,” he continued. “I know many things that are effective that we do to reduce the numbers but the causal factors are much more difficult.”
LAPD Officer Liliana Preciado said it is important that residents continue to report instances of domestic violence.
“People are reporting this more,” she said. “Obviously there’s no way for us to know why it goes up or down in this particular period but we are always encouraging victims to come forward.”
The LAPD reported a total of 297 homicides in the city this year, making it the quietest year for murder since 1967. 
