Police are grappling with ways to reduce crime after statistics released last week for 2015 showed violent crime increased citywide by 19.9 percent, and property crime rose 10.3 percent.

Additional officers have been deployed in the Hollywood Entertainment District to proactively address crime problems. (photo by Edwin Folven)

At the Hollywood and Wilshire Divisions, the numbers were lower than the citywide average, but both divisions experienced an increase in violent and property crimes. The command staff at both police stations said they aim to reverse the trend and are working on new approaches to fighting crime.

A portion of the increase was attributed to changes in the way crime is reported, including assaults, a category that now includes domestic violence incidents. Previously, such incidents were classified separately.

The increase also comes after years of declining numbers across the board, and there doesn’t appear to be any one factor driving the rise, according to authorities. Regardless of the causes, police are looking for ways to improve partnerships with the community and to be more proactive about preventing crime.

“January is a time when we try to focus on ideas people have to address crime,” said Capt. Howard Leslie, commanding officer of the Wilshire Division. “We are going to really emphasize this year working with the homeless coalitions to make sure homeless people are connected with the services that they need, and implementing more foot beats. We need to put it out there that we have had 10 years of reductions in a row, and we are still low compared to the numbers 10 years ago.”

Violent crimes increased 5.5 percent in the Wilshire Division from 2014 to 2015, from 651 to 687. Of those crimes, homicides decreased 50 percent from eight to four, and robberies declined .3 percent from 294 to 293. The overall increase was driven by a 14.2 percent increase in aggravated assaults.

The Wilshire Division experienced a 6 percent increase in property crimes in 2015, largely driven by a 22.2 percent increase in thefts. Leslie said with property and violent crimes combined, the Wilshire Division had the second lowest increase of all divisions citywide. The Southeast Division in South Los Angeles had the lowest increase in violent and property crime, with a 5.3 increase in property and violent crimes.

Leslie added that reducing violent crime is his primary concern, but reducing property crimes remains a top priority. He said the numbers are largely driven by a large number of shopping malls, businesses and offices in the area where people park vehicles. Leslie said people commonly leave valuables visible inside vehicles, making them attractive targets for thieves.

“We are trying to come up with a new slogan and trying to continue getting that message out to people,” Leslie added. “You also have to look at the Mid-City area being an attractive place for people to live. When you have more people in an area, you are going to have a rise in crime.”

In Hollywood, the crime statistics placed the division in the middle of the 21 police stations, according to Sgt. Ben Fernandes. The Hollywood Division had a 16.5 percent increase in combined violent and property crimes. Violent crime increased 23 percent over 2014, with 1,112 compared to 902 the previous year. Total property crimes increased 14.8 percent, with 4,197 reported compared to 3,656 in 2014.

Fernandes said many factors contributed to the increase, including an increase in people visiting and moving to Hollywood,  a surge in homelessness and changes to how crimes are categorized.

“Crime is cyclical. It always has been,” Fernandes said. “We have had years of really low crime rates and it’s coming around again. We are trying to find new strategies to bring it down.”

Authorities in Hollywood have deployed foot beats, bicycle patrols and other resources to the Hollywood Entertainment District and are continuing to monitor the homeless population in an effort to link them with services. Fernandes said the police deployment from the Hollywood Division has been augmented by officers from the LAPD’s Metropolitan Division, whose officers are sent to areas experiencing an increase in crime. He added that public safety is the main priority, so Hollywood remains safe.

“I would bring my family down to Hollywood and walk around,” Fernandes added. “Compared to how it was years ago, it’s done a complete 180.”