MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — Homicides in territory served by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department dropped in 2012 from the previous year despite an uptick in overall serious crime.
Preliminary statistics released Wednesday tallied 166 homicides last year, the lowest number since 1970, when there were 143 homicides. In 2011, there were 170 homicides.
Overall violent crime in 2012 increased 3.48 percent over the previous year and serious property crimes were up 4.31 percent.
The statistics cover 42 contract cities and 130 unincorporated communities policed by the county Sheriff's Department.
The 4,084-square-mile county has 88 incorporated cities.
The city of Los Angeles earlier reported 298 homicides in 2012, an increase of one over the previous year.
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