Violent crime in city rises

Violent crime in Costa Mesa jumped 35% in 2008 when compared to the year before, according to statistics released by the state attorney general’s office.

There were 350 violent crimes in Costa Mesa in 2008. The state defines a violent crime as a homicide, rape, robbery or aggravated assault. There were 190 aggravated assaults and 120 robberies in 2008, or 91 more than in 2007. By far, those two categories make up almost all violent crime in Costa Mesa, and have since at least 1996, the latest available data on violence in Costa Mesa immediately available Wednesday.

California keeps data on violent crimes for cities of 100,000 or above; Newport Beach’s numbers were not released by the state.

While the significant jump in violent incidents, from 258 in 2007 to 350 last year is significant, when compared over a larger time frame 2007 appears to have been a remarkably peaceful year. No one year since at least 1996 have so few violent crimes occurred as they did two years ago. The last time Costa Mesa police dealt with 350 violent crimes or more in one year was 2001, according to state data.

There was one homicide recorded in 2008 — most likely a record of the fatal January stabbing of Javier Paz. Police said Paz was killed by Scott Santana, 24. Santana is scheduled to be arraigned following his preliminary hearing Monday.

Costa Mesa saw progress in property crimes, with about 150, or 7.7%, fewer cases than in 2007. There were 516 burglaries, 304 vehicle thefts and 952 grand thefts in 2008. There were more than 1,500 thefts of less than $400 last year. The only trend that seems to have emerged in Costa Mesa over the last five years is a steady increase in aggravated assaults.

According to Newport Beach’s statistics, the city had eight more violent crimes in 2008, making its total 99. The city had the same amount of property crimes, 1,667, as in 2007 with gains and losses spread among grand thefts, burglaries and vehicle thefts.

Reporter JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.