The 2008 mid-year numbers are in and major crimes, categorized as Part-I crimes, showed a significant overall reduction for the Santa Clarita Valley as compared with the first six months of 2007. Forcible rapes were down 39 percent; business and residential burglaries declined by 13 percent; and larceny theft, which includes car burglaries decreased by 20 percent. The largest percentage decreases were reflected in the categories of homicides and arson.
Santa Clarita Valley violent crime, which includes homicides, forcible rapes, robberies, and felonious assaults, was reduced by almost six percent overall. In the City of Santa Clarita violent crimes decreased by almost five percent and the unincorporated areas decreased by nearly eight percent.

The only category to show an increase was aggravated assaults, which increased by one reported crime, an increase of less than one percent. There were some differences in the unincorporated county areas and the City areas, such as the increase in robberies in the City by five, an eight percent increase. This was countered by a decrease of seven robberies in the unincorporated areas, a 33 percent decline. The opposite was true of aggravated assaults. The unincorporated area showed an increase of seven assaults, a 22 percent increase and the City showed a decrease of six assaults, a five percent decline. In both categories, the raw numbers for the entire Santa Clarita Valley area were very close, robbery decreasing by two and aggravated assaults raising by one.

“I am very pleased with the reduction in crimes,” said Captain Anthony La Berge. “This reflects that deputies are working hard, the citizens have heard our public safety campaigns and are motivated to assist in the safety and security of their neighborhoods, and the teamwork between City and County officials and the Sheriff’s Department has never been better.”
“One particular crime, larceny, which includes vehicle burglary and theft from unlocked vehicles has been rising steadily for the last few years and it is fantastic to finally see a reduction in the number of reported crimes. This is a crime of opportunity which we have really targeted with our messages to the public. The reduction in this area is attributable to the community’s partnership with law enforcement.”

The Station has had several significant additions in the past year. The new City funded interactive website with which they are able to provide information on crimes in the area and what the public can do to protect themselves, their financial identity, and their property, has enhanced our abilities to provide a high level of service to the community.

Over the last several years, station deputies were struggling with severe staffing shortages and were required to work a significant amount of overtime. As a result of a robust Sheriff’s Department recruitment and hiring effort many new deputies have been assigned to Santa Clarita Valley Station. Currently the vacancy rate has been reduced and it is refreshing to see our staffing of young energetic and motivated deputies hitting the streets. As a result of their efforts, arrests for the calendar year 2007 were up by 18%.

The hardworking patrol deputies and the involved community should take pride for their significant efforts in this favorable downward crime trend. Remember, preventing crime in Santa Clarita is everyone’s business and responsibility - “If You See Something - Say Something”.