The total number of killings in the city of Los Angeles is down by nearly a third through the midway point of 2009 compared with the same period last year, the Los Angeles Police Department reported today.

The homicide figures, 137 killings between Jan. 1 and June 30 compared with 197 for the same time period in 2008, reflect a half-decade of declines in violent and property crime that began in 2003 and has continued despite double-digit unemployment in Los Angeles.

Violent crime, including aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery fell by nearly 6% in the first half of 2009 compared with the same period last year. Assaults were down 8%, and there were 11% fewer reports of shots fired and 18% fewer shooting victims.

Those declines come as the city heads into the crucial summer months, when violent crime tends to increase. This year, police also face the added challenge of economic dislocation.

Yet the numbers do not appear to reflect fallout from continued economic decline. Led by a 17% drop in auto thefts, property crimes fell 7% overall through June 30 compared with the same period in 2008.

Robbery, which is classified as violent crime but also can be impacted by a down economy, fell 3.4% in the first half of 2009. Spousal and child abuse also was down, by about 3%.

Total arrests, which stood at 91,712 through June 30, were down marginally from the comparable period last year.