Santa Monica
LOOKOUT

By Jorge Casuso

June 13, 2025 -- The number of serious crimes reported in Santa Monica dipped last year despite a rise in homeless-related calls for service and reported crimes, according to the Police Department's annual report released Wednesday.

Of the record 128,820 calls for service, a 25 percent rise over the previous year, nearly 24,000, or 19 percent, involved the homeless, who accounted for 1,694 of the 2,802 total arrests, or 60 percent.

Part I crimes -- which include larceny, homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, grand theft auto (GTA) and arson -- decreased last year by 2 percent, from 4,917 incidents in 2023 to 4,840 last year.

Larceny (which includes theft and shoplifting) remained steady, accounting for 2,927 of the reported Part I crimes, or nearly 60 percent of the incidents.

Meanwhile, overall burglary increased from 653 to 744 cases, or 14 percent, "driven mainly by a 17 percent increase in residential burglaries," according to the report.

Murder and homicide rose from one incident in 2023 to 6 last year, while rape cases saw a slight decrease from 48 in 2023 to 45 last year.

Most of the Part I crimes saw decreases last year. Robberies "dropped significantly" from 244 to 182, or 25 percent, and grand theft auto decreased from 573 incidents to 479, or 16 percent.

Arson incidents decreased from 80 to 63, a 21 percent drop, and
Aggravated assaults also slightly decreased from 403 to 394 incidents, a 2 percent decrease.

Many of the aggravated assaults involved knives, highlighting "the intersection of public safety and homelessness," the report noted.

Meanwhile, less serious Part II crimes increased by 574 reported incidents, from 3,506 to 4,080, "driven by a 15 percent increase in simple assault," according to the report.

The Part II crimes included 136 incidents of weapons possession, 160 of DUI, 171 of disorderly conduct, 391 of fraud, 631 of narcotics, 727 simple assaults, and 761 incidents of vandalism.

Crime on the Third Street Promenade -- which "remains a focus for visibility and enforcement" -- rose by 2 percent, "driven by pickpocketing and vehicle break-ins," according to the report.

Part II crime on the Promenade increased by 5 percent, "especially narcotics-related arrests," as officers responded to 8,874 calls and made 256 arrests, with 70 percent of those involving homeless individuals.

Last year, the Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) received 4,541 calls,
conducted 3,528 proactive contacts, cleared 335 encampments, issued 135 citations and made 61 arrests.

HLP also made 1,686 service referrals, including 237 mental health evaluations and 161 psychiatric holds, which impose a 72-hour hospitalization for those deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.