WESTMINSTER, Calif.—Westminster has experienced dramatic increases in robbery, aggravated assault, and burglary from January through March compared to last year, according to data from the city’s police department, with low budgets contributing to a police “recruitment war” short-staffing the force.
According to police data, robbery is up nearly 80 percent, aggravated assault is up nearly 70 percent, and burglary is up 20 percent.
Additionally, violent crime overall is up 60 percent.
“We do not have the staffing to do that much proactive enforcement on a lot of these [crimes],” Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi told the city council during the April 27 meeting when explaining the reasons behind crime rate increases.
…