City homicides drop 20 percent

Homicides in the city have dropped 20 percent, according to the latest statistics released by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Citywide, police reported 181 homicides between Jan. 1 and June 26, 2007, compared with 225 in the same period last year, statistics show.

Total violent crimes which include, homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assaults, dropped 7 percent, from 14,016 total violent crimes to 13,047 between Jan. 1 and June 26, 2007.

Property crimes dropped 2 percent, from 48,747 last year to 47,827 so far this year, statistics show.