Crime in San Diego is at its lowest in decades with aggravated assault, violent crime, burglary, larceny and property crime reaching historic lows, according to a new report.

The latest statistics show a ten percent decrease in overall crime from January to April compared to the same period last year.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman applauded the positive report.

“I want to commend the job our officers are doing and they continue to do to make our city safe,” said Mayor Faulconer.

Chief Zimmerman credits community policing with decreasing crime in the City of San Diego.

“These kinds of reductions don’t just happen by luck or accident. It is because of the courage and hard work of our officers,” said Zimmerman.

However, the San Diego Police Officer's Association pointed out that there are many factors at play here.

“I’d say crime statistics are a piece to the whole puzzle,” said Brian Marvel, President of the San Diego Police Officer’s Association.

When examining a city's safety, Marvel said we need to look at various metrics. Besides crime statistics, there are emergency response times and the number of officers on the street to deal with quality of life issues like noise, vandalism and graffiti.

“Crime stats don't mean anything to people in PB. What's their number one concern? Out of control drunkenness,” noted Marvel.

Marvel said competitive salaries are needed to fully staff the police department, so they can quickly answer calls and be proactive in preventing crime. He added that people don't bother calling police because they know they are understaffed. Marvel says that contributes to the under reporting of crime.

Although Chief Zimmerman credits community policing with the decrease in the crime rate and thanked officers and the community, she also agreed partly with the Police Officer's Association.

"I will never miss an opportunity to recruit, and as you know we are hiring, and I encourage everyone to join our team," said Chief Zimmerman.

February through August is considered swarm season in San Diego, which explains the recent uptick in beehives and swarms.

Due to the rain this winter there are more flowers which has led to more bees.

A swarm may contain anywhere between 2000 to 30,000 bees. They occur when there is overcrowding in a beehive. Swarms are temporary homes for bees before they fly away looking for a permanent home or as we call them beehives.

While it may look and sound scary, swarms are usually gentle and rarely sting unless directly provoked.

Here's some advice if you run into a swarm: 

• If a swarm lands on your property chances are it'll be gone in 2 or 3 days.
• The best thing that you can do is not disturb it or try to remove the bees yourself.
• Don't swat the bees, rapid movement will only agitate them more. Do not spray the bees with water or any kind of bug repellent.
• Pay close attention to your yard and Listen for buzzing.
• If you often see bees entering or leaving a specific area, those are signs that something is up.
• If you want to remove the bees off of your property, call your local bee keeper.

It takes approximately 1,100 bee stings to cause fatal injuries on a healthy adult and up to 500 stings to fatally harm a child.

Experts say nearly 100 people die from bee stings each year.

Three suspects have been taken into custody in connection with a burglary attempt in Mira Mesa Friday evening, confirmed police.

San Diego police are still looking for an additional suspect that could be lingering in the area.

A neighbor called police to report a robbery around 7:30 p.m., on the 8800 block of Revelstoke Way, according to the SDPD. 

San Diego police went to the house and found three burglary suspects, who were arrested shortly after.

Officers are currently working to clear the scene. No other information was immediately available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

The San Diego County Fair will be back at the Del Mar Fairgrounds starting June 2 through July 4. This year the fair will embrace the wild, Wild West. There will be a Toyota Summer Concert Series, wine festival, beer festival, wood working and agricultural attractions, rides and a fine art exhibit.

You can either buy your tickets online or at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Box Office at the O’Brien Gate. For fair mega-fans, you may buy the Best Pass Ever, which is a season pass that is valid all 26 days of the fair for just $26. The fair has many fun rides and activities in the Fun Zone and Kids Zone, and Pay-One- Price Ride Days allow you to ride as many rides as you want for only $38 on select Wednesdays and Thursdays.

With the purchase of a San Diego Country Fair ticket, you get free admission to the live musical performances put on by the Toyota Summer Concert Series, with performances by artists such as Lauren Alaina and Sundance Head, Aleo Blacc, Toby Keith, Switchfoot, and many more. You may also purchase a seat-specific ticket for the concerts if you wish to have a reserved seat. Stand-up comedian and host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, will be performing at the fair grounds on June 27 at 7:30 P.M.

Festivals and special events will also be taking place at the fair. From June 16 – June 18, the San Diego International Beer Festival will hold the largest beer festival on the west coast.

General admission (GA) tickets are $55 or $65, depending on the session you would like to attend. GA includes admission to the beer festival, unlimited 1-ounce samplings with your souvenir tasting glass, and admission to the San Diego County Fair. For the extreme beer lovers, you may purchase a VIP Lounge ticket for $100, which includes unlimited 6-ounce samplings, special lounge areas and VIP food stations.

If you are someone that enjoys contests and competitions, the fair will have events such as floral design contests, trivia contests and Battle of the Bands. For those looking for fun contests to participate in, you might try your hand at corn husking, watermelon seed spitting, best animal noises, bubble gum blowing, and family lookalike contest.

Head on over to the San Diego County Fair this summer to see all the attractions, concerts and festivals the Wild West has to offer.

A family is making a heartbreaking plea after their beloved brother was killed by a drunk driver May 5. 

With the start of this holiday weekend, they're hoping their message will make people think twice about drinking and driving. 

So far in the month of May, five people have been killed in San Diego County from drunk drivers -  the most ever for one month.

Family pictures show Willy Sarabia, 29, playing with his two children he adored.  "They're devastated their dad is not here with them.  My oldest one understands. He wants to go with dad.  He cries for him every night, and that's what kills me," said Azuhara Romero, the mother of Sarabia's two children. Their boys are just four and six years old; now they’re left without a father. 

"He was always with them during the afternoon.  Just all of a sudden you take that away from them, they're questioning, ‘did I do something wrong?’  It's just really hard," Romero said.

Sarabia was loved by many.  He was killed in El Cajon while he was a passenger in a horrific crash.  His brother Sandor, explained what made him so special.  "From the time he wakes up, to the time he goes to sleep; he was just known to have so much spirit in him," he said.

Now, his loved ones who have lost so much ask people to think twice before drinking and driving. "It wasn't just him that died.  It was a whole piece of everyone that died with him,” said Sandor.

A gofundme page has been set up.  The proceeds go to help Sarabia’s two boys.  https://www.gofundme.com/azuhara-and-her-boys

The driver survived.  She's currently in jail on DUI resulting in death charges.

A small brush fire that sparked in the 600 block of Vista San Javier is under control thanks to quick action by San Diego and Chula Vista Fire. 

The fire, which burned two acres, started just after 9 p.m. Friday. 

A helicopter was requested to do water drops. 

The fire has been contained, and the bulk of it is knocked down. 

A Ramona thrift store was burglarized early Friday morning. The suspect stole donations from a secured area outside the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet on Main street...and the whole thing was caught on security cameras.

Dressed in a stocking cap and light colored coat, the thrift store burglar was recorded rifling through clothing donations around 5 a.m.

Proceeds from the sale of donations the thief got away with would have helped the poor in that community.

The thief didn't make it into the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet, but he did get into the secure donation area behind this locked gate.

The store manager and investigating Sheriff's detectives believe this is the burglar's second time committing this same caper.

“He's stealing from somebody that might have really needed it,” Ramona Food and Clothes Closet Manager Vesna Curry said.

Curry said she's seen this suspect before.

Last March the store manager captured this still image of a man with similar features and wearing the same clothes leaving with stolen donations in the middle of the night.

"Last time they came over a different area we saw him leaving but not coming,” Curry said.

The thrift store repurposes some donations and sells the rest. The money is doled out to other organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs in the form of grants, food and scholarships.

It's strange, Curry thinks, that the thief would steal things he could probably get for free if he just asked. “I couldn't even begin to guess. It's weird,” Curry said.

Even stranger is what he stole - women's underwear. “I don't know if it’s due to drugs. I don’t know if he is a cross dresser. I don't know if he has a girlfriend that like pretty things," Curry said.

Curry is looking to nip this in the bud. What is petty theft now could encourage more serious crimes and adds an element of danger.

Besides the two thrift store burglaries, Curry says break-ins happened at two other shops near this same corner in recent weeks.

Sheriff's Detectives are investigating whether the same suspect is responsible for all of them.

Police are responding to reports of a shooting at Potomac Street and Calle Tortuosa, officials confirm.

The call came in around 10:55 p.m. Friday night. One woman has been shot in the back, according to San Diego police, and one person has been taken to the hospital, San Diego Fire says.

A dead whale that washed ashore at Agate Beach in Bolinas earlier this week has been identified as an endangered blue whale, according to officials.

Scientists from the Marine Mammal Center identified the whale as a sub-adult female measuring at about 79 feet in length. The scientists on Friday collected skin and blubber samples for testing, and a full necropsy to determine the animal's cause of death is scheduled for Saturday.

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This is just the ninth time in the Marine Mammal Center's 42-year history that their scientists have responded to a blue whale discovery.

"We rarely have the opportunity to examine blue whales due to their endangered status," Barbie Halaska, a research assistant at the Marine Mammal Center, said in a statement. "The opportunity to perform a necropsy on a carcass in this good of condition will help contribute to our baseline data on the species."

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The deceased whale was first identified while swimming off California in 1999, according to the Marine Mammal Center. It typically spent its time near the Santa Barbara Channel area.

Roughly 2,800 blue whales currently call water off the California coast home, according to the Marine Mammal Center. The species is listed as endangered according to the Endangered Species Act.

From a chip shipping boom for Qualcomm Inc., to the 150th anniversary of downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, here's a look at some of the stories that shaped our Local Business Spotlight and San Diego Scene this week.

Qualcomm Ships More Than 1 Million Chips Per Day
San Diego-based giant, Qualcomm Inc., said the company is shipping more than 1 million chips every day for a wide range of connected devices in what’s known as the “internet of things.” This includes chips for devices like wearables, connected TVs, cameras, drones and home automation devices.

Downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter Turns 150
Downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter hits a milestone this year: its 150th anniversary. On May 24, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer delivered a proclamation marking the special occasion. Over the next few months, the Gaslamp Quarter will keep the party going with special events showcasing the history of the landmark neighborhood developed by Alonzo Horton in the 19th century.

Grocery Outlet Opens in City Heights
A new Grocery Outlet Bargain Market opened to the public this week in City Heights, at 4360 54th St. The grand opening celebration is happening on Saturday and will include deals, prizes and treats. This location is owned and operated by a San Diego native who grew up right in the neighborhood where he will now run his business, hoping to find ways to use his business to give back to his community.

‘Balboa Park After Dark’ Shines On 
Balboa Park will once again “come alive after five” this summer as the landmark brings back its popular program – “Balboa Park After Dark” – offering special nighttime attractions and deals. The program runs every Friday, from May 26 through Sept. 4, from about 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. On those nights, there will be extended hours at eight museums in the park, plus food trucks and entertainment to light up the night.

Port District Starts Summer Waterfront Shuttle Service
The Unified Port of San Diego has brought back its summer waterfront shuttle service, running daily now through Sept. 4. The regular rate for the shuttle bus is $3 per person for unlimited all-day rides. There’s also a way to score a deal on a $1 ticket.

The data hack at Chipotle Mexican Grill was a bit wider than the company originally disclosed, CNBC reported.

A month after Chipotle told consumers that it had detected "unauthorized activity" on a network that supports payment processing for purchases made at its Mexican chain restaurants, the company said Pizzeria Locale restaurants also were affected.

Customers can check Chipotle's website to see if their local stores were affected.

The breach, which Chipotle said took place between March 24 and April 18, collected track data from some customers. Track data is information transferred when a credit card's magnetic strip is swiped through the point-of-service device.

Chipotle said that information could have included the cardholder's name, card number, expiration date and verification code.

Chipotle has removed the malware and said it continues to work with cybersecurity firms to beef up its safety measures.

A marine worm discovered by researchers at Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UC San Diego has been given a tasty new name.

Named Xenoturbella churro, or X. churro, the marine worm looks similar to the fried pastry topped with cinnamon sugar -- at least what Scripps biologist Greg Rouse thought when he discovered the sea critter in the Gulf of California.

“I was trying to think of the name for it,” Rouse recalled.

When Jose Carvajal, one of his staff, saw a video of the worm, he remarked, “Wow, that looks like a churro!”

X. churro is 10 inches long and feeds off of mollusks, such as clams. The new species is orange-pink in color, but sometimes may appear to look more on the purple side, with four deep longitudinal furrows – just like a churro.

“We were like, 'Well, why not name it after the churro?'” Rouse said.

X. churro also made the cut for being in the Top 10 New Species for 2017 by the Environmental Science and Forestry College at State University of New York College (SUNY).

This is the second year in a row that a species discovered by Scripps researchers has made the Top 10.

Xenoturbella churro joins three other new Xenoturbella species also identified by Rouse and other scientists from the Western Australia Museum and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has initiated Stage 3 Fire Restrictions for BLM-managed public lands in Southern California counties, including San Diego.

The restrictions, in place until further notice, were issued due to dry and hot weather conditions that could help start a fire, especially near dry vegetation as we approach wildfire season.

The BLM states that the Stage 3 Restrictions prohibit setting, building, maintaining, attending or using open fire of any kind.

Controlled flame devices, such as portable stoves fueled by petroleum or liquid gas products are allowed only with a permit, says the BLM. The public is urged to use extreme caution when using fire. The BLM says people should always have enough water on hand and put their fire completely out before leaving their site.

Smoking is only permitted within enclosed vehicles or camp trailers.

Vehicles should be parked away from locations where exhaust could cause grass or other combustibles to ignite, says the BLM.

In addition to the fire restrictions, there are also restrictions for recreational target shooting within western Riverside and San Diego counties.

This order closes off approximately four million acres of public lands used for recreational target shooting. Violation of the target shooting restriction could result in a $1,000 dollar fine or imprisonment up to one year, according to the BLM.

The restrictions are timely, on the heels of San Diego's Gate Fire, which scorched more than 2,000 acres off State Route 94 south of Jamul one week ago. The blaze started near an area sometimes used as a shooting range.

In the coming months, warmer temperatures will increase wildfire dangers in San Diego County.

A domestic violence suspect claiming to be armed with a gun and allegedly threatening to shoot police was arrested in Bay Park after a 4-hour standoff overnight, authorities said.

Just after midnight Saturday, San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officers went to a home along the 2300 block of Galveston Street to investigate a report of a man holding a gun.

When officers tried to make contact with the man – now identified as Anthony Hernandez, he refused to come outside. Hernandez said he had a gun.

Police said he made verbal threats to shoot officers and hurt himself.

SWAT officials were called to the scene and, with the suspect holed up inside the home, a standoff ensued. Police said Hernandez refused to come out for about four hours.

Eventually, he surrendered. No one was harmed during the incident.

Investigators said Hernandez is accused of physically assaulting his live-in girlfriend. He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

No further details were released. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this case cn call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Volunteers came to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Saturday to place American flags at the gravesites of fallen U.S. servicemen and women as a way to honor them and their ultimate sacrifice.

The solemn tradition takes place every Memorial Day Weekend at Fort Rosecrans in San Diego.

For Philip Roberts, who volunteered with his family, placing the flags is an opportunity to show his children the significance of honoring and remembering the lives lost in protecting our freedom.

“It’s important that they understand the importance of the day [Memorial Day]. It’s more than just a mattress sale or something. It’s honoring so many men and women from the past and today that have given the ultimate sacrifice for the country.”

Heidi Taylor also volunteered with her children to make them aware that the men and women laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans fought hard for our country.

“Freedom is not free," she said. "People have given their lives and fought hard for our country and every American needs to celebrate that and remember that.”

Harvey Semler is a veteran visiting his daughter in San Diego from Washington state. He decided to extend his trip a little longer to volunteer on Saturday morning.

“I had never been to one of these since I left the military,” Semler said.

Graham Wright, the Assistant Cemetery Director at Fort Rosecrans, was moved to see so many kids, parents and grandparents paying their respects.

“It brings great joy to my heart to see so many people out here,” Wright told NBC 7.

In all, 86,000 gravesites were decorated with an American flag, in addition to a flag being placed at each columbarium wall.

On Monday,a Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Rosecrans will take place at 10 a.m. at the Rostrum.

There are several ceremonies and events being held in San Diego this Memorial Day Weekend to honor lives and the sacrifices made of our country’s military men and women.

You could call it a show room, but for those dealing with ALS, it’s more like a dark glimpse into the future.

The San Diego Chapter of the ALS Association recently built a model bedroom and bathroom giving people a first-hand look at what it’s like to live with the disease.

ALS, also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” slowly stops people from moving while their brain stays perfectly sharp.

Some call it the opposite of Alzheimer’s disease.

“I can’t feed myself, I can’t bathe myself,” explained Don Daniels, who was diagnosed in 2009. “The flip side is thank goodness there is help and people willing to do that for me.”

Daniels is actually beating the odds, because most people will die within two to five years of diagnosis, according to stats provided by the ALS Association.

The disease is now closely linked with the “Ice Bucket Challenge,” a social media stunt perfected countless times over Facebook and other sites over the past couple of years.

It raised more than $100 million dollars and a priceless amount of awareness, but nearly three years after the viral challenge, the nonprofit is still looking for ways to attract help.

ALS impacts roughly 250 people in San Diego County, which is a relatively small number, considering the disease’s devastation.

Steve Becvar, executive director of the SD chapter of the ALS Association, says their show room is a practical way to help people understand how hard living with the disease really is.

“It can be a little stunning and we’re careful to make sure patients are ready” said Becvar, but he also knows people sometimes need a visual representation to understand things.

May is ALS awareness month.

People interested in donating to the non-profit, which primarily helps to fund research, can do so through the ALS website or by calling (858) 271-5547.

We all know hackers can get into our cell phones and laptops, but did you know they can also get your information through your rental car?

Dr. Murray Jennex is a cybersecurity expert at San Diego State University, he said anyone with Memorial Day Weekend travel plans should beware.

"When you rent a car and you use the GPS on your phone through that car's Bluetooth, that car records the information from your phone," said Dr. Jennex.

That means any information on your phone: texts, contact lists and e-mails can be stored and used by cybercriminals.

Dr. Jennex said there is a way to protect yourself. Go into the settings of the Bluetooth device installed in the car and erase all the user data. He added doing this quick and easy step can save you from identity theft and fraud.

“That data is powerful," said Dr. Jennex. "It is used to determine who you are. We all have different personas: we have our web persona, we have our car persona. Those are all being used to craft an image of who you are, that can be marketed or hacked.”

A terminal in Newark airport was evacuated for about an hour Saturday after authorities found a pressure cooker, Port Authority police said. 

Police said that no threat was found after the package was discovered at about 6 p.m. Port Authority tweeted that travelers should expect residual delays from the evacuation. 

The suspicious package was discovered at level 3 of Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport according to police. 

The Port Authority Police tweeted: "#PAPD evacuating Terminal A, Newark Airport after a pressure cooker was found in the terminal. Awaiting bomb squad."

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Law enforcement sources told NBC 4 New York that it was found in an area before passengers are screened. Someone reported a brown shopping bag had been left next to a large garbage can, the sources said. 

A Port Authority police officer looked into the bag and saw that it "looked like a pressure cooker," the source said. 

One traveler said no one panicked during the evacuation.

"No one seemed freaked out, everyone seemed calm," Ryan Lozano, from Astoria, told NBC New York. "It wasn't like they were telling us to run."

K9 units, emergency service units, detectives and the Elizabeth Fire Department were at the scene, police said. The Essex County bomb squad also responded. 

The terminal was evacuated at about 5 p.m. on the first day of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. 

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A family has filed a $3 million claim against the City of San Diego after their father was killed while crossing a busy North Park street.

The family claims that the city knew the intersection at El Cajon Boulevard and Kansas Street was dangerous because others had been hit by cars there in the past. Nine people have been struck at the same intersection in the last ten years, according to the claim.

Girmay Meashoe lost his friend Kebede Abera Tura after he was hit by a car while crossing the intersection.

Meashoe told NBC 7 the father was trying to catch his bus when he was fatally struck.

“He was a very nice person and we’re very sad," said Meashoe.

Now, Tura's four children are suing the city for failing to take any measures to warn traffic of pedestrians crossing in the area.

In response, the City of San Diego says the claim is still under investigation and they cannot disclose information about cases during that process.

Tootie Thomas, President of El Cajon Blvd Business Improvement Association told NBC 7, “It’s time for the city to step up, and say okay, what can we do to help El Cajon Boulevard out, slow the rate of speed down, create crosswalks for people so they can cross with more assurance and safer?”

“The perfect way to not forget him is to make it safer for all pedestrians," said Thomas.