Is crime in Los Angeles going up? Here's what the latest data shows

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Does perception match reality when it comes to crime in Los Angeles?

ABC7's data team crunched crime data and when you look at just in the city of L.A., all types of crime are trending downward.

While there have been more than 15,000 violent crimes committed in L.A. in the first eight months of the year, that's down 17% from the same period last year. Property crimes are down 17% as well.

For L.A. County, there's data comparing crime now versus before the pandemic.

Homicides and robberies are below pre-pandemic levels. In the county, however, aggravated assaults are up by 22%, and because of this spike the overall violent crime rate has ticked up 5%. Burglaries though are below pre-pandemic levels.

If most types of crime are trending lower, why does it not feel like it to so many?

Jorja Leap, a professor of social welfare at UCLA, says social media is amplifying crime coverage on the news, and true crime series and documentaries are more popular than ever.

"I think we've got a collective PTSD, and I'm not being flippant," Leap said.

"You go to divert yourself, and what do you watch? A murder mystery," Leap added.

Leap also says the tone of politicians on both sides now is leading to a general feeling of people not feeling safe and that we are heading in the right direction.