by Richard Winton
September 21, 2009

Despite the hard economic times, both violent crime and property crime are down significantly in areas patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, according to statistics released today.

The biggest drop came in homicides, which are down 23.5% through Sept. 18 this year compared with the same period in 2008, according to Sheriff Lee Baca.

The crime drop comes despite an economic downturn that has been particularly hard felt in some poorer neighborhoods patrols by the Sheriff such as Compton and unincorporated southern L.A.

Baca predicted more than a year ago that the ailing economy would might result in crime increases — but that has so far not materialized. Unemployment in the county now stands at 12.3%.

Overall, violent crime dropped 10% in the dozens of communities patrolled by the sheriff’s department — a coverage area that stretches from Antelope Valley to the south end of the county.

Property crimes also declined 11% so far in 2009 compared with 2008. There have been 153 homicides so far in 2009, 48 fewer than last year. The sheriff’s Lancaster and Avalon stations reported the biggest drops in major crimes, 22.3% and 28.6% respectively. East L.A. Station saw homicides drop 46.4% with eight homicides, compared to 15 in same peroid in 2008.

Despite the crime drop, the number of deputy-involved fatal shootings rose. The number of fatal shootings involving sheriff’s deputies has risen from five in all of 2008 to 13 so far this year, including three in the last weekend alone.

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