L.A. crime decreases for 10th straight year [Google+ hangout]

Times crime reporters Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein will join city editor Shelby Grad at 2:30 p.m. in a Google+ hangout to discuss decreasing Los Angeles crime rates. 

For the 10th year in a row, Los Angeles crime dropped in 2012 with major decreases in gang crime, city leaders announced Monday. 

Homicides increased for the first time, but by just one, to 298.

Crime L.A.: Mapping crime in L.A. cities and neighborhoods

The overall decline in crime was smaller than in previous years because of jumps in lower-level crimes, such as personal thefts. Cellphone thefts jumped 30%, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said.

There were no obvious explanations for the increase in thefts. Some crime experts said the statistics suggested the years of economic hardship facing many Angelenos may finally be having an impact on crime.

The figures released Monday: 

Homicides: 298 in 2012, up from 297 in 2011

Rape: 773, up 4.9% from 737,

Robbery: 8,953, down 11% from 10,057

Aggravated assault: 8,769, down 6.3% from 8,829

Burglary: 16,135, down 6.4% from 17,231

Grand theft: 14,780, down 3.2% from 15,269

Burglary theft from a vehicle: 26,183, up 2.2% from 25,616

Theft: 28,767, up 4.3% from 27,590

Violent crime: 18,293, down 8.2% from 19,920

Property crime: 85,666, up 0.2% from 85,706

Overall crime: 104,159,down 1.4% from 105,626

Shooting victims: 1,187, down 9.1% from 1,306

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