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Crime stats 1999
Living in Manhattan Beach is no crime
by John Tawa
The city of Manhattan Beach continued to enjoy a low crime rate in 1999 according to statistics supplied by the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
Part I crimes - those offenses considered most serious by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - totaled 1325, two percent lower than last year and 24 percent lower than the year before last.
"Generally, we are enjoying a decrease in crime that is consistent with the regional and national decreases a lot of other jurisdictions are experiencing," Police Captain David Maggard said. Factors influencing the crime rate include low unemployment and other positive economic factors, as well as the department's proactive law enforcement efforts and improved relationships between the police department and the community. Maggard also pointed to the city's Neighborhood Watch program as being an energetic and positive factor in keeping crime rates low.
The city was murder-free for the first time in three years and the incidence of violent crimes like rape, robbery and assault all declined slightly. Reported arson crimes fell from 10 to three. A total of 168 violent crimes were reported in 1999, compared to 191 reported in 1998.
"Because the crime rate is low, it gives us an opportunity to take a closer look at every incident," Maggard said. "The fact that we have any violent crime is of concern to us, but we're continuing to have success in decreasing those numbers.
Auto theft declined 19 percent in 1999, with only 89 total thefts reported. This follows a 21 percent decline in auto thefts from 1997 to 1998.
"We're seeing a decrease regionally as well as in our city," Maggard explained. "People are taking precautions with regard to their vehicles. More people are installing alarms, anti-theft devices and vehicle tracking devices."
Larceny, which includes all motor vehicle burglaries, thefts and burglaries (both residential and commercial), increased slightly in 1999. Forcible entry burglaries showed the only dramatic increase, rising 22 percent from the year previous.
Maggard said the department was concerned about the increase in this category over last year and was analyzing data to determine why it occurred. It may be that people are taking more preventative measures and are more aware of the importance of securing garages and their homes, he said.
One of the department's crime detection and prevention highlights occurred in September. An undercover task force assembled by Lt. Randy Leaf arrested three suspects in a string of burglaries of rental cars. A follow-up investigation resulted in the seizure of more than $500,000 of stolen property in the large-scale enterprise targeting victims from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.
In addition to Part I crimes, the police classified 2437 other crimes or incidents in 1999, approximately the same number as the previous year. These generally are considered less serious than Part I crimes.
Driving under the influence arrests were down 28 percent, from 311 in 1998 to 222 last year. Narcotics arrests also decreased 25 percent, from 79 in 1998 to 59 last year. There were no arrests for manufacturing drugs or drug trafficking.
The data for the less serious crimes must be viewed cautiously, Maggard said, because the department's record keeping focuses more on the more serious Part I crimes, which must be reported periodically to state and federal agencies. Maggard also said that while Part I crimes have strict classification guidelines to which Manhattan Beach adheres, reporting of the less serious crimes often suffer due to lack of similar guidance on how to classify those crimes. ER