Crime on the rise in SCV

2009 saw increase in reports of several serious crimes but a large drop in auto thefts




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By the numbers:

Between 2008 and 2009:
* Criminal homicides increased from 3 to 6
* Forcible rapes increased from 28 to 30
* Robberies increased from 167 to 170
* Aggravated assaults remained steady at 369
* Burglaries increased from 999 to 1,121
* Larceny thefts increased from 2,815 to 2,845
* Grand theft auto decreased from 598 to 447
* Arson remained steady at 47
* Overall crime increased from 5,026 reports to 5,035

SOURCE: Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station



By Melissa Gasca

mgasca@the-signal.com
661-259-1234 x518
Posted: Feb. 22, 2010 10:55 p.m.
UPDATED Feb. 23, 2010 4:55 a.m.

Overall crimes reports in the Santa Clarita Valley increased less than 1 percent from 2008 to 2009, sheriff’s officials said.

However, reports of major crimes — including criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery and burglary — saw more substantial increases. The biggest increase was in reported burglaries, while the most significant drop was in auto thefts.

Criminal homicides doubled from three to six over the period. Sheriff’s deputies attributed the increase, in part, to a pair of domestic-violence killings and a murder-suicide last year.

Meanwhile, the number of forcible rapes increased from 28 to 30 and burglaries jumped about 12 percent, from 999 to 1,121.

Grand theft auto incidents dropped from 598 to 447 – a decline of about 25 percent. Gang-related crimes dropped 39 percent in 2009 compared to 2008 and did not include any homicides, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt. Anthony La Berge said.

Assaults with firearms saw a 50 percent decline.

The numbers cover the entirety of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s patrol area, which includes the city and surrounding unincorporated areas.

Rising trends began to reveal themselves at the end of 2008, which alerted law enforcement to react and focus attention on increasing crimes trends, La Berge said Monday.

“With the troubled economy, we feared we might see property crimes and other crimes — because of heightened tensions both domestic in households and challenges people were facing,â€