Tonight, Committee Will Hear Pasadena Crime Rate Has Dropped 4% So Far This Year

Overall crime in Pasadena dropped this year compared to each of the past three years, Pasadena Police Chief John Perez be able to tell the City’s Public Safety Committee tonight.

In fact, the Police Department’s year-to-date report shows reported crimes in nearly every category the Dept. tracks has fallen by 15% to 50%.

The only increases, both in low single digits, occurred with assaults and residential burglaries.

Three murders this year are half or less than 2017 and 2018 statistics.

The numbers run counter a popular belief on social media that crime in Pasadena “out of control.”

Gallup’s annual Crime poll, conducted Oct. 1-13 this year, reported 52% of Americans describe the problem of U.S. crime as “extremely” or “very serious.”

In Pasadena, crimes reported dropped by 4% to 3,077 so far in 2019 from 3,214 last year.

The statistics compiled by police cover 12 different categories: homicide; rape; robbery; assault with a deadly weapon; assault; assault domestic violence; commercial burglary; “other” burglary; residential burglary; vehicle burglary; theft; and stolen vehicle.

Theft is, far and away, the most common of the above in every Council district.

Domestic violence, a growing concern for the PPD, also dropped from 31 in October of last year to 18 this year; a decrease of 42 percent. Assaults were static over the same month a year ago, while residential burglary increased 4 percent, although that is just one more crime.

The figures are based on calls-for-service data.

Pasadena’s Public Safety Committee will meet at 6 p.m. tonight in Council Chambers at Pasadena City All, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena.