Crimetracker Maps Crime Reports In Pacific Beach

08-30-07 at 7:01am

The News 8 CrimeFighters are looking into a recent increase in crime in Pacific Beach.

Violent crimes, burglaries, rapes and robberies have all increased in Pacific Beach, and residents are taking action to protect themselves.

A viewer named Ed emailed News 8 to report an alarming increase in gang activity and violent crime in his Pacific Beach neighborhood near Campland on the Bay.

“I have noticed a major rise in criminal activity,” Ed wrote. “Most nights there are sirens on the weekends.”

News 8 spoke to residents, who told us there is crime, but in general they feel safe in Pacific Beach.

“I haven’t seen anybody I’d be afraid of,” one female resident said. “I ride my bike in the dark by myself, which may be stupid.”

“My bike has been stolen. It was locked and stolen overnight,” a male resident said.

News 8 ran the numbers and found that there is more crime in Pacific Beach than any other San Diego neighborhood.

Over the first six months of this year, there has been a seven percent increase in burglaries, a 67 percent increase in rapes and a 75 percent increase in armed robberies over the same period last year.

The Crimetracker map of Pacific Beach over the past three months doesn’t look much better.

More than 200 car thefts, 148 thefts in general, 90 burglaries and 65 assaults were reported in the past 90 days in P.B.

Police are patrolling the problem areas in Pacific Beach, which has a lot of people – and a lot of bars.

“Well I think alcohol is the big item, and it’s congested. There are a lot of apartments,” residen Leroy Shumway said.

Longtime Pacific Beach residents are fighting back by setting up neighborhood watches, and keeping an eye out for crooks.

“We have two locks on our doors, bolt lock and a regular lock, and we never go anyplace unless we lock our house. We never open the window at night,” one resident said.

It’s good advice to keep the criminals away.