San Francisco homicides down 18 percent from 2017

San Francisco saw a marked decrease in homicides, shootings and property crime in 2018 compared to the previous year, Mayor London Breed and the city's Police Department announced Thursday.

Compared to 2017, homicides in San Francisco decreased by 18 percent, while non-fatal shootings decreased by 30 percent.

Property crime was down, including a 17 percent drop in auto burglaries, a 13 percent decrease in auto thefts and a 10 percent drop in larceny theft, according to police.

The mayor's office said the decrease in crime was a result of new initiatives by the Police Department to increase foot patrols and hire more officers.

 "We have a lot of work still to do, but I am encouraged by the progress we have made," Breed said in a news release.

Earlier this month, Oakland reported a similar crime dip, including the lowest levels of murders in 19 years.