H.B.’s violent crime numbers up, FBI says

According to preliminary crime statistics released by the FBI this month, Huntington Beach was one of the few cities in Orange County to see an increase in both violent and property crimes last year. Most cities in the state saw a decrease in one or both.

The city of Huntington Beach reported that there were three murders in 2008, compared to zero in 2007.

There were 388 violent crimes last year, compared to 376 the previous year; in addition to the murders, that number included 33 rapes, up from 29 in 2007; 118 robberies, compared to 102; and 234 aggravated assaults, down from 245 in 2007.

In property crime, there were 4,328 incidents reported — an increase of nearly 300 from 2007’s total of 4,035 property crimes.

Broken down, those included 749 burglaries, down from 795; 3,265 cases of larceny/theft, up from 2,825; 314 motor vehicle thefts, a decrease from 415; and 34 cases of arson, compared to 42 in 2007.

— Candice Baker