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Crime gives HB a break as levels dipped in 2000
by Robb Fulcher
Crimes such as assault and driving under the influence dipped in Hermosa Beach last year, while other major crimes such as rape held steady, according to Police Department statistics.
As in most years, 2000 went by without a single murder in what is generally a low-crime town.
The number of assaults dropped to 97 last year from 119 the year before. Arrests for driving under the influence dipped to 152 from 203 the year before.
Police Chief Val Straser said incidents of DUI dipped largely because increases in fines and auto insurance premiums have made the crime a much more expensive one. In addition, public perception about driving under the influence has changed. Peers frown upon the crime much more, he said.
Auto thefts dropped to 60 last year from 75 the year before.
Robberies held about steady with 13 last year and 14 the year before, while the number of rapes held steady at six last year and the same number the year before.
Burglaries of homes, cars and businesses increased to 145 from 118 the year before. Strasser blamed the increase on one "knucklehead" who was arrested after allegedly committing nearly 20 burglaries.
The number of adults arrested dropped to 616 from 680 the year before, and the number of juveniles arrested went up to 13 from 12 the year before.
Traffic tickets rose to 3,209 from 3,133 the year before, and disturbance calls to police increased to 3,477 from 3,128 the year before.
Traffic accidents resulting in injuries decreased to 64 from 68 the year before.
One fatal traffic accident occurred last year, when a 52-year-old Los Angeles man apparently stepped outside of his van on Gould Avenue Aug. 18, then apparently tried to stop the van or get back inside and was thrown into a curb. No fatal traffic accidents occurred the year before.
Overall calls for police service increased to 25,147 from 21,378 the year before.
Police issued fewer parking tickets, 46,517 compared to 49,068 the year before. But they applied the wheel-locking "boot" to 33 autos, compared to only 20 the year before.
Fifty fires broke out in the city last year, causing $363,110 worth of damage, according to Fire Department statistics.
Wild kingdom
Animal control citations decreased to 67 from 92 the year before, according to Police Department figures.
Police picked up about the same number of animals, 287 compared to 280 the year before. But fewer animals were returned to their owners, 66 compared to 101 the year before, and more were taken to the shelter, 71 compared to 34 the year before.
Other animals were taken to veterinarians or were dead when they were picked up. Sixteen of them were returned to the wild, compared to 11 the year before.
Animal control workers went easier on dogs, impounding 10 of them last year compared to 23 the year before. But the field workers were tougher on cats, impounding 12 of them last year compared to five the year before.
The number of "other" animals impounded rose to 13 from only three the year before. ER