"Hate crimes in Los Angeles County soared last year to their highest mark in five years even as overall crime dropped across the region, according to a report released Thursday. The annual report by the county’s human relations commission shows 763 hate crimes were reported in 2007, a 28 percent increase from 2006. The numbers buck last year’s overall crime trends, which saw a decrease of 6 percent in Los Angeles County and 5 percent in the city of Los Angeles, the report notes," reports Associated Press.