LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CONTINUES LOW CRIME LEVELS

(Los Angeles, California – February 10, 2010)  Major crime continues to be almost non-existent at Los AngelesInternationalAirport (LAX), according to 2009 statistics released today by Los Angeles Airport Police.  In the category of Part-I Crime, which includes all major categories of crime against persons, there was only one robbery reported in 2009 compared to two in 2008.  There were no aggravated assaults reported in 2009, compared to five in 2008.  No homicides or rapes were reported in 2009 or 2008.  The number of arrests increased 11 percent from 1,263 in 2008 to 1,407 in 2009.

            Los Angeles Airport Police Chief George R. Centeno said, “LAX continues to be one of the safest airports in the world, and one of the safest areas in all ofSouthern California.”  He added, “The total number of major crimes against persons is remarkably low, given over 56.5 million travelers used LAX last year.  Including non-traveling visitors and airport workers, we estimate 209,000 people passed through LAX on an average day.”

            Reports of Part-I Property Crime, the more common type of crime that affects the quality of passengers’ experiences at LAX, decreased nine percent to 850 incidents in 2009 compared to 938 incidents in 2008.  Larceny (theft from individuals) -- the largest category of property crime -- dropped 4.4 percent from 802 incidents in 2008 to 766 incidents in 2009.

            Crime involving vehicles declined in 2009 compared to 2008.  Of the 6,591,161 vehicles parked in LAX parking lots and structures last year, there were 41 reports of burglaries from locked vehicles, a 53 percent decrease from 88 incidents in 2008.  Property theft from unlocked vehicles dropped eight percent from 24 incidents in 2008 to 22 in 2009.  There were nine reports of motor vehicle theft (grand theft auto) last year, a 53 percent decline from 19 incidents reported in 2008. Stepped-up patrol of LAX parking facilities has been a primary deterrent to crimes involving vehicles.

            According to Chief Centeno, much of the reduction in property crime is traceable to an increase in vigilance by patrol officers and plain-clothes surveillance units resulting in increased arrests, recovery of victim’s property, and successful prosecution of suspects.  Numerous arrests were made for opportunistic theft and narcotics violations at the federal passenger security screening stations.  Arrests of aggressive or unlawful solicitors also increased due to specific focus on this issue.

The chief added that through a significant, on-going cooperative effort among various Airport Police units, the Los Angeles Police Department, airlines and their luggage vendors, target areas were identified and strategies developed for preventing and suppressing criminal activity.  Of note, proactive, concentrated enforcement of airline baggage claim areas resulted in an increased number of arrests accompanying a 140 percent increase in reported burglaries from commercial areas from five incidents in 2008 to 12 incidents in 2009.

            In Part-II Crime, miscellaneous offenses – the largest single statistical category – increased 2.9 percent to 1,593 incidents in 2009 from 1,548 in 2008, primarily as a result of increased proactive law enforcement, as well as increased federal passenger and checked-luggage screening measures.  This category includes prohibited weapon violations, drug-related offenses, loitering/Illegal lodging, operating vehicle for hire without authority, forgery, disturbing the peace, driving with a suspended or without a valid license, and solicitor violations.

            The number of batteries dropped 16 percent to 47 incidents last year from 56 in 2008.

            Reports of vehicle vandalism from all airport parking facilities, including employee parking lots, dropped 37 percent to 39 incidents in 2009 from 62 in 2008.

Airport Police statistics cover the approximately 3,600 acres of LAX property, including passenger terminals, parking facilities, aircraft ramps, offices and cargo areas.

Los Angeles International Airport, the sixth busiest airport in the world, offers more than 565 daily flights to 81 destinations in the U.S. and over 1,000 weekly nonstop flights to 65 international destinations.  The airport is owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a City of Los Angeles department that also owns LA/Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports.