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Public Safety

San Diego County Crime Rates Increased In 2012

Crime increased across all major categories in San Diego County last year, but the totals remain well below 30-year highs, the San Diego Association of Governments reported today.

The regional planning agency released a snapshot of its annual crime report, which is due for release early next month.

The data shows the number of murders countywide in 2012 totaled 107.

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Though up 30 percent from 2011, that's still the 12th lowest total in the last 30 years, according to SANDAG statistics. The high during that period was 278 in 1991, while the low was 67 in 2010.

The number of aggravated assaults rose by 9 percent to 7,840 from the previous year, the sixth lowest mark in the 30-year period, but larceny and auto thefts rose by 7 percent, burglaries climbed 6 percent, and rape and robbery cases were up 5 percent, according to SANDAG.

The 3,200 robberies reported was the second-lowest total over the three decades, and the 691 reported rapes was the fourth-lowest, according to SANDAG.

SANDAG's initial data release came without comment.

In recent statements, San Diego police Chief William Lansdowne attributed a 6.9 percent crime uptick in his city to personnel cuts in his department, a transfer of state inmates to county custody and a larger transient population.

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