Serious crimes up slightly from the year before

Serious crimes such as aggravated assault and burglary increased by 10 in Laguna Beach in 2014 from a year earlier, though the number is not as high as the average for previous years, according to Laguna Beach police statistics.

“Part one” crimes, which include homicide/manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, larceny, vehicle theft and arson, numbered 528 — less than the per-year average from 2009 through 2013 of 593. Part one crimes are reported to state and federal authorities monthly.

Police say serious crimes like larceny and vehicle thefts decreased while aggravated assaults rose to 52 in 2014 from 31 in 2013, and 98 burglaries were reported in 2014 compared with 89 the previous year. The number of rapes increased to four last year from three in 2013. No homicides were reported for the second straight year.

Capt. Jason Kravetz said he could not pinpoint one cause for the rise in assaults. The crimes include bar fights, juvenile altercations, domestic violence incidents, fights on the beach, parking disputes and road rage incidents, he said.

Arrests for possible public intoxication increased for the sixth straight year to 322 in 2014, while arrests of people suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol declined 29, to 345 last year.

DUI-related arrests have declined by 300 in three years since a peak of 645 in 2011.

Kravetz credited several factors for the decrease: increased community outreach to prevent intoxicated people from driving; reminders to bartenders to beware of overserving inebriated customers; and checkpoints throughout the city.

Reported cat bites increased to 13 in 2014 from five the previous year, while dog bites declined to 49 from 53 in 2013, according to Laguna Beach Animal Services, which also covers Laguna Woods. Two people were bitten by bats and one was bitten by a squirrel, according to reports.

Coyote-related calls increased to 277 in 2014 from 167 a year earlier.