Local crime stats bucking a statewide trend

California’s attorney general says the number of violent crimes jumped 10 percent statewide last year, reversing several years of declines.

Homicides increased nearly 10 percent while robberies and aggravated assaults were up more than 8 percent. Attorney General Kamala Harris released a series of crime reports Friday.

Although the statewide numbers reported Friday were for 2015, crime statistics compiled by CBS Local 2 and KESQ indicate violent crimes may be going down in the Coachella Valley. In the first six months of 2016, there were 10 homicides. By July 1st in 2015, there were already 22 homicides valley-wide.

Desert Hot Springs had six of those homicides this time last year, and in 2016, the number is just one. Coachella, Indio and Catherdral City have each had two homicides so far in 2016. The Banning pass area has had two murders to date in 2016.

Harris, a Democrat who is running for the U.S. Senate, did not comment on the reasons for the increases in California. Her office noted that violent and property crime rates remain below 2010 levels.

There were 1,861 homicides in California in 2015, or 4.8 for every 100,000 residents. That rate is the same as in 2010 but up from 2014.

Hate crimes increased more than 10 percent, led by those involving a religious bias.