Crime & Safety
Fewer Robberies, but More Property Crime Last Quarter in La Mesa
Police Chief Ed Aceves blames property crime rise on public safety realignment act.
Also read: La Mesa Property Crime Rate Had Sharp Rise in First Quarter 2013
La Mesa Police Chief Ed Aceves told City Council that property crimes in the city are still on the rise this year, but fewer robberies were reported, according to the quarterly crime report presented at the meeting Tuesday.
Aceves reported a 9 percent uptick in crime in La Mesa during the second quarter of 2013, compared to the same time last year.
Aceves said AB109, the state law passed in 2011 that reduces overcrowding in the prison system by shifting low-level inmates in state prisons to county jails, has been a contributor to this rise in crime. He said almost every agency in the area is seeing a similar rise in property crimes for the same reason.
La Mesa Police Chief Ed Aceves told City Council that property crimes in the city are still on the rise this year, but fewer robberies were reported, according to the quarterly crime report presented at the meeting Tuesday.
Aceves reported a 9 percent uptick in crime in La Mesa during the second quarter of 2013, compared to the same time last year.
Aceves said AB109, the state law passed in 2011 that reduces overcrowding in the prison system by shifting low-level inmates in state prisons to county jails, has been a contributor to this rise in crime. He said almost every agency in the area is seeing a similar rise in property crimes for the same reason.
"There's no place to put our low level criminals, mostly property thieves. Once they get out a lot of them have no will or means of rehabilitation and they continually commit crimes," said Aceves.
"It's frustrating because in the past they would still be in custody."
There are currently 32 "AB109 post release offenders" in La Mesa.
Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The rate of property crimes was up 11 percent in the second quarter, mostly attributably to a rise in thefts, especially items easily taken from vehicles, such as backpacks, iPods, and cell phones, according to Aceves.
The rate of violent crime was down in the second quarter, specifically there was a 16 percent decrease in robberies year-to-date compared to 2012. Of 32 robberies, 13 of the cases were solved and closed by the department. Last quarter there were five rapes, one homicide, 32 robberies and 41 assaults.
Aceves also addressed the issue that there is a public perception of more crime in La Mesa than surrounding areas because the La Mesa Police Department uses alerts and press releases to inform the public more often than other jurisdictions.
"When we have a robbery, we almost always put out a press release, so there's an appearance that La Mesa is rampant with robberies and no one else is," said Aceves.
"It's a double-edged sword, we want to keep citizens informed, but if no one else is doing it it has the appearance that we're the only one with robberies."
To make his point, he shared a map of countywide robberies in June, where La Mesa did't even register on the map.
Notable facts in the report:
• Based on citizen complaints, LMPD Detectives began an investigation and discovered evidence of prostitution and human trafficking at four local massage parlors. A multi-agency undercover operation was conducted at Mesa Spa, Transcend Spa, Holistic Health Clinic and June Spa. As a result of that operation, two individuals were arrested for prostitution and all four businesses are no longer in operation.
• Based on CAL-Gangs, there are 135 documented gang members living in La Mesa.
• The Police Department made 239 contacts with transients during the 2nd quarter of 2013 compared to 192 contacts during the same period in 2012.
Download the second quarter crime report from the La Mesa Police Department.
The rate of violent crime was down in the second quarter, specifically there was a 16 percent decrease in robberies year-to-date compared to 2012. Of 32 robberies, 13 of the cases were solved and closed by the department. Last quarter there were five rapes, one homicide, 32 robberies and 41 assaults.
Aceves also addressed the issue that there is a public perception of more crime in La Mesa than surrounding areas because the La Mesa Police Department uses alerts and press releases to inform the public more often than other jurisdictions.
"When we have a robbery, we almost always put out a press release, so there's an appearance that La Mesa is rampant with robberies and no one else is," said Aceves.
"It's a double-edged sword, we want to keep citizens informed, but if no one else is doing it it has the appearance that we're the only one with robberies."
To make his point, he shared a map of countywide robberies in June, where La Mesa did't even register on the map.
Notable facts in the report:
• Based on citizen complaints, LMPD Detectives began an investigation and discovered evidence of prostitution and human trafficking at four local massage parlors. A multi-agency undercover operation was conducted at Mesa Spa, Transcend Spa, Holistic Health Clinic and June Spa. As a result of that operation, two individuals were arrested for prostitution and all four businesses are no longer in operation.
• Based on CAL-Gangs, there are 135 documented gang members living in La Mesa.
• The Police Department made 239 contacts with transients during the 2nd quarter of 2013 compared to 192 contacts during the same period in 2012.
Download the second quarter crime report from the La Mesa Police Department.
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