Violent crime declined and property crime continued to increase in San Diego during the first half of 2013 compared to the same period last year.
The statistics come from a report released Thursday by SANDAG which gathered information from local law enforcement agencies between January and June of 2013 and compared them to the same period in 2012.
During that period, a total of 5,431 violent crimes, which includes homicides, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults, were reported throughout the county.
That averages out to 30 crimes a day, a decrease from 32 a day in 2012.
Homicides saw the biggest drop, with only 40 being reported in the first half of 2013 compared to 64 in 2012 during the same period.
"The turnaround in violent crime is positive news for the San Diego region," said SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Director Dr. Cynthia Burke. "We know from our work with our law enforcement partners that even in the era of shrinking budgets, they have continued to direct resources to fight the most serious crimes."
The decrease comes amid a 30-year low in violent crime which Burke said may be the result of several actions including an increase in the prison population, an aging population, and improved communication between law enforcement agencies.
