Laguna continuing trend of low crime

Andrew Edwards

Laguna Beach Police Department statistics show incidents of major

crimes went down in the first half of the year, though the number of

arrests have increased.

“I just think we need to thank our police department for having a

presence on our streets,” Councilwoman Toni Iseman said. “It’s nice

to feel safe in your hometown.

The numbers compared the first six months of 2004 to the same

period in 2003. Overall, there was a 12% dip in cases of the major

felonies listed -- homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault,

burglary, larceny, grand theft auto and arson. Law enforcement

agencies across the country keep tabs on these seven crimes when

collecting crime statistics.

Major crimes are relatively rare in Laguna. There were no murders

reported in the first halves of 2003 and 2004. There were no rapes

reported in the first half of this year, though there was one rape

case in the beginning of last year.

When numbers are small, statistics showing a percentage change in

the amount of crimes from year to year can be somewhat volatile. For

example, percentage figures show a 75% decline in robberies, while

the actual numbers show there were only four robberies at the start

of last year, down to one in the first half of 2004.

The most significant drop was in the number of aggravated

assaults, there were only 12 cases in the first half of this year, 50

less than the beginning of 2003. Police Chief James Spreine said

police do not yet know the reason behind the improvement, and said

the cause could range from better patrolling to people being more

civil to each other.

The statistics show a slight increase in larcenies and burglaries,

and a fall in auto thefts. Only one case of arson was recorded in

each of the time periods.

There were more felony and misdemeanor arrests in the first half

of 2004 and 2003. The increase in felony arrests, combined with an

overall decline in the seven major felonies where individual numbers

are reported, could reflect police catching people suspected of other

felonies like drug violations, Spreine said.

There were more narcotics arrests made at the start of 2004 than

2003, though the numbers do not show how many drug-related arrests

were for felonies or misdemeanors.

The 105% rise in misdemeanor arrests, Spreine said, could reflect

the prevalence of petty crime over major offenses in Laguna, as well

as the higher rates of arrests for motorists caught driving under the

influence.

“You could have simple assaults, and we’re making more arrests for

simple assaults than aggravated assaults,” Spreine said. “We have

more drunk driving arrests.”

There were 234 more arrests for driving under the influence in the

first half of 2004 than 2003.

The spike in drunk driving arrests was a downside to an otherwise

positive report Councilman Wayne Baglin said. Laguna’s roads could be

the most dangerous part of an otherwise safe city.

“You may be safer in your home in Laguna Beach than you are in the

streets,” Baglin said.

The hike in drunk driving arrests can be partly explained by

heavier business at local bars and restaurants, Spreine said,

combined with increased patrolling. Though traffic safety data was

not listed in the report, Spreine said fatal crashes have declined,

while the rate of injury accidents has stayed fairly steady.

“I’m always satisfied in my mind that when we put a drunk driver

in jail ... that we’ve saved his life or potentially saved someone

else’s life,” Spreine said.

The city should take a more active role to keep drivers off the

road after a round of drinking, Baglin said. He suggested the city

should work with local bars and restaurants to post warning signs

inside drinking establishments and parking lots to remind people of

the penalties for drinking and driving.

“I think we should have some signs in the parking lot that are

warning, ‘Do not get in your car and drive out of this parking lot if

you are intoxicated. You will get arrested,’” Baglin said.

What the numbers cannot show is whether crime has increased in

Laguna, or whether police have improved their abilities to track

crimes while locals do a better job of reporting problems. Spreine

said he believes that since many Laguna police are veterans on the

force, officers feel close to the city and have improved their

abilities to monitor public safety.

“I think our officers feel they have a vested interest in this

community,” he said.