The number of murders within Los Angeles city limits has tipped 100, which has some wondering if crime is up or not. Through May 8th, there were 103 murders, three more than the same time last year, which was when the city experienced the fewest homicides since 1967. "Murder in Los Angeles is not really a function of the economy," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told KCAL-TV today. "Murder is a function of gang violence -- that's what moves the numbers in Los Angeles."

Beck added that "there are other crimes that are functions of the economy and those are all down." According to the latest crime stats, posted today on LAPD's blog, rape and aggravated assaults are down over 16%, burglary is down over 10% and robbery and personal/other theft are both down over 9%. Grand theft auto and car break-ins are down by nearly 3 and 1%, respectively.

Overall, violent crime is down by 12.6% and property crime by 5.7%. Countywide last week, there were 20 killings.