Crimes at LAX Increase in 2013

The total number of reported crimes at Los Angeles International Airport in 2013 increased by about 10 percent over the previous year, authorities said Monday.

Reported crimes at LAX in 2013 totaled 1,569, compared with 1,425 in 2012, said Los Angeles Airport Police Chief Patrick Gannon.

During that time, airport police reported a 17 percent increase in the number of arrests: 1,235 in 2013, compared with 1,057 in 2012.

Also, passenger volume increased nearly 4.4 percent, with nearly 66.5 million travelers in 2013, compared with 63.7 million in 2012.

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

Gannon said the total number of "part 1 crimes," which includes all major categories of violent and property crimes, was up 37 percent -- 521 in 2013 compared with 380 in 2012.

"The category of part 1 crimes against persons includes the tragic shooting death of a federal Transportation Security (Administration) officer and the wounding of three others on Nov. 1, 2013," Gannon said.

"The heroic quick response and decisive actions of federal Transportation Security officers in directing passengers away from the location, and airport police in stopping the suspect, are credited in preventing additional deaths or injuries," he said.

That was the only homicide in 2013 at LAX. No homicides were reported at the airport in 2012.

- City News Service