Laguna crime rates remain status quo

Andrew Edwards

Crime figures released by the FBI on Monday show that the number of

violent crimes committed in Laguna Beach held steady from 2002 to

2003, while the city saw a decline in the number of property crimes.

The FBI tracks eight crimes in its annual report, “Crime in the

United States.” The four violent offenses counted are murder,

forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. The FBI counts three

property crimes, burglary, larceny and auto theft. Arson, the eighth

crime tracked, is listed on its own.

In both 2003 and 2002, 55 violent crimes were committed in Laguna

Beach. There were less rapes and robberies in Laguna in 2003 than

2002, but more felonious assaults. No murders were committed in

either year.

Violent crime figures for Laguna Beach typically amount to small

numbers, and the changes in the number of crimes from year to year

are often small. Laguna police did not see any trend in the figures.

“To us, any decrease we like seeing, but, when you’re dealing with

small numbers, any decrease doesn’t mean a lot,” Chief James Spreine

said.

The largest drop in property crimes was in the number of larcenies

reported, there were 381 thefts in 2003, down from 560 in 2002.

Police have not determined any specific reason to explain the dip

in thefts, Spreine said.

The police department can use statistics to plan for crime

prevention strategies, but the information they use is more localized

than numbers provided by the FBI, Spreine said.

For example, if police notice a spike in thefts in a Laguna

neighborhood, police could check to see if anyone on parole or on

probation is living in the area, and increase patrols, Spreine said.

Many of the issues that Laguna police deal with on a daily basis

aren’t included in the crimes listed by the FBI, Spreine said. Laguna

police are frequently called out to settle relatively minor problems

like aggressive panhandling, noise complaints and public drinking.

“In a community like ours, a lot of the problems we see are crimes

of annoyance,” he said.

The frequency of petty crimes that often fall under Laguna’s

municipal code, has changed the way police deal with nuisances,

officials said. Starting in mid-August, police have given different

kinds of tickets to people who are caught on suspicion of violating

the municipal code.

For minor offenses, police now hand out administrative citations

that can be paid at City Hall, bypassing the Superior Court system,

Spreine said. In the past, having to send people to court for small

matters often resulted in cases being dismissed, as the District

Attorney’s office is burdened with more serious cases.

The new policy has been a moneymaker for the city, Assistant City

Manager John Pietig said. Though it was not initiated to streamline

bureaucracy rather than to generate revenue, the city has received

about $15,000 in fine payments so far.