LA Police: Gangs, Homelessness Fuel Huge Increase in Crime

Overall crime Los Angeles last year rose to its highest level since 2009 because of higher gang activity and homelessness, the Los Angeles Police Department said Wednesday.

Violent crime rose 20.2 percent last year compared with 2014, the Los Angeles Times reports, while crimes against property increased 10.7 percent.

The Los Angeles Police Department reported 283 homicides last year. That was up 8.8 percent over 2014.

Nearly 60 percent of the deaths were gang-related, the Times reports.

Police Chief Charlie Beck said that gang-related offenses were up for the first time in eight years.

Regarding violent crime, the biggest increase — 27.8 percent — came in aggravated assaults.

In other year-over crime data:

• Rapes rose 9.1 percent.
• Robberies increased 12.5 percent.
• Burglaries rose 5.1 percent.
• Theft gained 10.7 percent.
• Motor vehicle thefts increased 17.1 percent.

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