Violent crime rate flat

New data released by the FBI shows crime rates mainly staying flat or decreasing in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

An FBI report released Monday shows no major changes in violent crime in Costa Mesa in 2006, with exactly the same number of incidents as in 2005. Police fielded 306 violent incidents in both years, though murder and non-negligent manslaughter doubled from three to six in a year of several highly publicized slayings.

Property crime, however, dropped by 12%, which includes a 27% plummet in vehicle thefts.

Crime rates in Newport Beach didn’t appreciably change over last year, with violent crime increasing by a hair and property crime very slightly decreasing.

For violent crimes, a decrease in homicides and forcible rapes was balanced out by a slight uptick in robberies and aggravated assaults.

The only crime showing a significant increase in Newport Beach was arson, which more than doubled from 2005 to 2006. In raw numbers, however, the difference is between eight in a year and 19 in the next.

Newport Beach police spokesman Evan Sailor said his department was working hard on property crimes on the Balboa Peninsula and Corona Del Mar.

“We’re trying to be as aggressive as we can,” he said. “If we can lower the stats, the better off we are. We want to be able to let people live a better lifestyle and not have to worry about their stuff being taken or stolen or burglarized.”

Violent crime increased nationwide last year for the second year in a row, but the rate is still the third-lowest in the last 20 years. Property crimes continued to decline slightly nationwide and are at their lowest rate since 1987, according to FBI reports.

MICHAEL ALEXANDER may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or at michael.alexander@latimes.com.