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Good Job, L.A.! 2007 Crime Down 7.8 Percent

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Sep 7, 2007 3:16 pm US/Pacific

Good Job, L.A.! 2007 Crime Down 7.8 Percent

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Los Angeles is on track to have fewer than 400 murders this year for the first time since 1970, police Chief William Bratton said Friday.

Since Jan. 1, there have been 280 homicides in the city, 56 fewer than at this time last year. Violent crime overall is down 7.8 percent from last year.

"As we enter the last four months of the year, Los Angeles stands a very good chance at the end of the year of having the lowest number of homicides since 1970 -- that's 37 years. This year we may end up with a total of about 400, down significantly from the over 600 that were occurring when I was appointed five years ago," Bratton said.

Compared to this time last year, the number of rapes is down 12.6 percent; robbery is down 6.4 percent; aggravated assaults are down 8.7 percent; burglary is down 2.1 percent; personal theft is down 6.8 percent; and car thefts are down 4.1 percent.

Despite those decreases, more Angelenos are having property stolen from their cars. Thefts from cars is up 1.8 percent, or 362 more incidents than at this time last year.

"People leaving computers, wallets, expensive sunglasses, you name it, in plain view in vehicles, often times unlocked," Bratton said. "Why do you want to leave a laptop computer worth $1,500, with oftentimes all of your personal history, on the front seat of a car? It defies imagination."

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.