The most severe types of lawbreaking -- including murder, rape, robbery and assault -- decreased in San Diego over the first half of this year, continuing recent positive crime trends in the city, authorities announced today.
Overall, serious crime dropped by 3.8 percent between January and July as compared with the comparable period in 2009, and the number of violent offenses went down by 4.6 percent, according to the San Diego Police Department.
The homicide tally fell by 33 percent during the six-month span; robberies dipped by about 11 percent; and auto thefts decreased by nearly 16 percent, SDPD officials reported.
In terms of gang-related crime, slayings went down by 60 percent and the number of drive-by shootings fell by 16.7 percent.
The statistics show that the city is on pace to enjoy a seventh straight year of reduced crime, according to the Police Department.
