A few rotten apples really do spoil the barrel. The Los Angeles Times reports that four men alone comprised a virtual crime wave in a a substantial portion of the city, the Northeast Division.

In June, police arrested four men they say were responsible for more than 500 crimes, including car theft, identity theft and burglary.

With the men now in custody, Bratton said the area has experienced a remarkable turnaround.

"Since the arrests, we have seen a decrease in residential burglaries of approximately 33%," Bratton said. "One of the suspects admitted to committing more than 200 burglaries from motor vehicles alone. Another suspect was found with 200 pieces of mail, and $150,000 in property was recovered."

Three of the men pleaded not guilty and the fourth admitted his crimes and was sentenced to state prison. While a court of law will determine whether the men are guilty, Bratton and LAPD officials are already using the case to make a point about crime.

"A few criminals can do so much damage to a community, particularly when it comes to property crimes. They rob and steal from hundreds of victims," Smith said. "So we set out to find those criminals."

Bratton is a proponent of the law enforcement theory known as the "10% solution," meaning that 10% of offenders commit 50% of all crimes.

Although all four of the men arrested have names that appear Hispanic (or "Latino, if you prefer), there is no information given about their land of birth or immigration status. I suppose it makes me a bad person if I wonder whether or not they came across the border illegally.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky

Thomas Lifson   7 11 06