Crime at LAX up 10% in 2013, outpacing growth in passenger volume

Crime at Los Angeles International Airport jumped 10% in 2013 from the previous year, with the sharpest increases coming in violent crimes and property crimes.

Those were among of the findings from crime statistics released Monday by LAX, the nation’s third busiest airport. During 2013, passenger volume increased 4.4%, to 66.5 million passengers, according to an airport report.

The numbers of miscellaneous crimes, such as weapons violations, loitering, drunk driving and drug-related offenses remained almost on par with those of 2012, the report said.

The sharpest increase was in violent crimes, from only three in 2012 to 14 in 2013. That included 10 aggravated assaults, two robberies, a rape and the Nov. 1 killing of a Transportation Security Administration officer.

Crimes against property, such as burglary and theft from parked vehicles, jumped 34%, the report said.

“Given the millions of people who travel through and work at LAX each year, the airport remains a very safe place,” said airport police Chief Patrick Gannon. “However, any increase in crime is taken seriously and we are committed to working with our public-safety partners and airport stakeholders to ensure these crime numbers are reduced in 2014.”

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