L.A. Communities Patrolled By Sheriff's Department See Decrease in Crime

Areas of Los Angeles County which are patrolled by the Sheriff’s Department saw a drop in crime for the second year in a row, according preliminary statistics released by the department.

The Sheriff’s Department currently patrols 130 unincorporated communities and 42 cities across Los Angeles County. In 2014, those areas witnessed a 4% decrease in violent crimes over the previous year. Homicides and property crimes, meanwhile, were down more than 11% and 7% respectively.

The latest figures represent a continuing trend. Over the past five years, homicides have fallen by 30% in communities patrolled by the department. Burglaries and auto thefts have also declined.

Sheriff's officials say there is likely no singular cause for the decrease in crime in the areas they service.

"I don't think you can point to one thing. I don't think you can say it's just the Sheriff's Department going out and arresting people," said Assistant Sheriff Michael J. Rothans. "We like to think the partnership we have with the communities we serve makes a big difference."

While department officials are welcoming the new statistics, they acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. Crime has increased in certain communities, they say, and rape was the one violent crime which increased in their jurisdictions last year.

Read more about the latest figures here.