Dennis RomeroThe unusually warm spring weather has brought out the rowdies in Venice, it seems. April was a violent month on the beach, with fights, stabbings and even a shooting.
New LAPD statistics from mid-April (PDF) show that certain categories have seen huge increases in crime in Venice and surrounding communities served by the department's Pacific Division (Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms, Westchester, parts of West L.A., La Cienega Heights and South Robertson).
Auto theft is up 49 percent over mid-March, child and spousal abuse is up 31 percent, robbery arrests are up 20 percent and burglary arrests are up 25 percent.
Arrests for aggravated assault were up 16 percent.
Compared to 2009 burglary arrests were up a whopping 103 percent, shots fired reports were up 83 percent and aggravated assaults were up 19 percent.
Rape was down 83 percent compared to the month previous, but only because mid-March saw a crazy 500 percent spike in such reports.
The Venice drum circle.; Credit: Tony Vera / YouTube
What gives? People in the area have complained about an influx of homeless, young travelers and RV dwellers.
Police told us that, indeed, young people who travel to the beach and live on the streets have been a visible problem along the boardwalk.
But keep in mind that total violent crime is down 9 percent compared to 2009, and property crime has decreased 13 percent.
Quality of life along the sand? Priceless.
[Venice 311].
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