Serious offenses fall 14%, but robbery, assault on the rise.
Crime in Santa Clarita Valley hit a four-year low in 2008, according to statistics released by Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station.
Crime in the city of Santa Clarita and the unincorporated area patrolled by the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station decreased by nearly 14 percent, officials said.
The majority of serious crimes - including homicides, forcible rapes and burglaries - were down overall compared with 2007, but there were some increases in robbery and aggravated assault.
Capt. Anthony La Berge of the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station says: "We continue to keep our community a safe place to live, work and play. We continue to drive home that message - Not in Santa Clarita - to those who might commit crime here."
La Berge credits the decrease to several factors including targeted gang enforcement and increased communications with residents through e-mail, the stations's Web site, the media, homeowners associations and Neighborhood Watch groups. Plus, deputies continued their intervention work with at-risk youths.
But La Berge admits that the hard work isn't over. "Now the biggest challenge we have is dealing with a troubled ecenomy, troubled housing and job markets that can heighten both domestic and bysiness tensions," he said.
Jerry.Berrios, Daily News.
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