Long Beach : Crime on the Increase

Reported crime increased 7.2% during the first three months of 1987 as the high-crime patterns of 1986 continued, according to new Police Department statistics.

Crimes against people jumped 12.3%, from 1,041 to 1,170, contrasted with the first quarter of 1986. Murders decreased from 17 to 13, but rapes were up from 36 to 52, robberies increased from 614 to 656, and assaults jumped from 372 to 449.

Major property crime was up 5%, from 7,132 to 7,489, although home burglaries were down slightly.

Reported crime increased in seven of the nine City Council districts, with serious offenses up most sharply in the 4th District (22.3%), the 8th District (17.6%) and the 1st District (16.1%).

Only the 3rd and 7th districts had decreases, thanks to cuts of about one-third in home burglaries.

The increases follow a 12.8% climb by major crime in 1986 after three years in which crime reports had been stable.