Last year’s crime statistics indicate that human beings are safer in Seal Beach than their personal property.
The Seal Beach Police Department reported a 5.3 percent increase in known crimes last year. There was an 8.2 percent increase in theft, officially called larceny, not including burglaries and robberies. (The data was provided by the Police Department. Percentages were determined by using a web-based calculation program and then rounded off to the nearest tenth of a percent.)
The primary theft problem seems to be theft from cars. “Theft from unlocked vehicles is 100 percent preventable,” said Sgt. Phil Gonshak, Seal Beach Police public informaiton officer. “Would you kindly remind our residents and visitors to simply remove their valuables and lock their car doors?”
When looking at police crime statistics, remember that the figures only reflect those crimes reported to the police or discovered by the police. Citizens do not always report crimes to law enforcement.
There were 578 serious known crimes in Seal Beach last year, what law enforcement agencies call “Part 1 crimes”—homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny and automobile theft. In 2013, there were 549. The 5 percent increase ended a four-year trend of crimes decreasing. But remember that percentages without actual numbers are misleading.
For example: There were zero homicides in Seal Beach last year, a zero percent change from 2013 to 14. In fact, there have been no homicides in Seal Beach since the eight Salon Meritage homicides in 2011. Seal Beach homicides decreased 100 percent from 2011 to 2012.
There was also a zero percent change in rape reports last year. One rape was reported to the Seal Beach Police Department last year. There has been one rape documented in Seal Beach each year since 2011.
In 2010, four rapes were reported. Reported rape decreased 75 percent from 2010 to 2011.
According to the National Institute for Justice, based on data from 1996 to 2000, only 36 percent of rapes were actually reported to law enforcement. According to the National Crime Victimization survey (2008 to 2012), 32 percent of rapes are reported to law enforcement.
There were seven robberies in town last year, one less than those documented in 2013, which was a 12.5 percent decrease. There were 75 assaults reported in Seal Beach last year, roughly 15.4 percent more than the 65 documented. A robbery is when someone uses violence or the threat of violence to steal money or property. Burglaries decreased about 7.4 percent from 95 in 2013 to 88 in 2014. A burglary is when someone enters a structure to steal money or property.
Automobile theft decreased 2.7 percent from 37 in 2013 to 36 in 2014.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, February 20
Animal Information—6:45 a.m.—Seal Way and 13th Street—The caller found a sick baby seal on the beach. The caller stood on the berm to point it out. Police referred the matter to Long Beach Animal Care Services, which has the contract to provide animal control services to Seal Beach.
Tuesday, February 21
Injured Animal—4:05 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—A resident brought in an injured seagull. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Monday, February 9
Disturbance, Family—12:23 p.m.—Oak Street—The caller said a neighbor came to their residence saying that her daughter had been beating her. The daughter was apparently still inside throwing things around. Medics were declined. Patrol is speaking with the victim, who said she was hit with a broom and fists by the subject. Report taken.
Tuesday, February 10
Welfare Check—3:57 p.m.—Oak Street—The caller said he had been trying to call his girlfriend’s mother to advise her that her daughter was arrested the previous night, and the phone line had been busy for some time. The caller wanted to make sure she was OK and not in need of assistance. Patrol contacted the woman. She was well, was on the phone and that was why it was busy.
Wednesday, February 11
Fire—10:38 a.m.—Kaylor Street—The caller reported a tree was on fire. The Orange County Fire Authority was en route. A second caller reported seeing smoke coming from a tree. Patrol assisted.
Laser—8:29 p.m.— Katella Avenue—Per the Los Angeles Traffic Control Center, there was a laser coming from South Orange County and the West Bay area about 20 minutes earlier. They were unable to pinpoint the exact location of the laser.
Sunday, March 1
Possible Drug Use—11:34 a.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller reported five to six high school age minors skateboarding in the park and one individual had a bong. They were last seen at a park bench by the barbecue grills. Patrol found no substance abuse and the minors were counseled.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, March 9
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:16 p.m.—Kensington Road—A deputy performed a patrol check in front of a vacant residence in search of a man dressed in black and reportedly drinking alcohol.
Suspicious Vehicle—10:32 p.m.—Ruth Elaine Drive—A deputy found a car with the passenger door and trunk open parked in the caller’s driveway. The deputy was unable to contact the owner of the car, but found nothing suspicious. There was no evidence of burglary. The deputy secured the car.
Tuesday, March 10
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:47 a.m.—Yellowtail Drive and St. Cloud Drive—A deputy performed a patrol check for a man who was walking in the neighborhood. He did not appear to be a salesman, just someone out for a stroll.
Fraud Report—1:52 p.m.—Druid Lane.
Wednesday, March 11
Citizen Assist—10:57 a.m.—Wembley Road.
Vandalism Report—2:14 p.m.—Wallingsford Road—The caller reported that two of the tires on his vehicle had been slashed.
Petty Theft Report—6:16 p.m.—Bradbury Road—The caller said parcels had been taken from his doorstep.
Thursday, March 12
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—6:38 a.m.—Weatherby Road and Hedwig Road—A deputy searched for an occupied car. According to the caller, the man did not live in the area and had been sleeping in his car for the past few nights.
Friday, March 13
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—10:12 a.m.—Hillrose Drive.
Drunk in Public—11:35 p.m.—Hedwig Road—The caller said a group of individuals was in the park. One of them was throwing up on the baseball diamond.
Saturday, March 14
Disturbance—7:13 a.m.—Foster Road and Piedmont Avenue.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
