Major Crime Increases in 1985 in County’s 5 Biggest Cities

Major crime in Orange County’s five largest cities increased by 1.5% overall last year, according to preliminary statistics released this week by the U.S. Justice Department.

The increase was less than the nationwide average of 4%. In some of the Orange County cities, reports of crime decreased.

The best showing was in Huntington Beach, where major crimes, including arson, dropped by nearly 4%. In 1985, there were half as many murders (4), a fifth fewer forcible rapes (38) and nearly half the arsons (38) as in 1984. The number of crimes fell in every category except for 1% increases in aggravated assault and vehicle theft.

Second Straight Decrease

It was the second straight year of an overall decrease in crime rate in the city.

“It’s really difficult to know the cause and effect of these things,” said Capt. Barry Price, chief of the Huntington Beach Police Department’s administrative division.

“We’ve stepped up our public awareness programs, particularly in burglary and theft. The drop in forcible rape, I’m sure, is due to women being much more aware and careful nowadays.”

“With arson, I haven’t the foggiest idea why (it decreased),” Price said.

The worst statistical showing was in Fullerton, where the overall crime index rose 10.5%, the second consecutive year of increases.

Violent Crime Drops

While violent crimes decreased or remained relatively unchanged in Fullerton, burglaries, larcenies and thefts increased by 702, or 14%.

“I don’t think anyone really knows what causes (such fluctuations),” said Capt. Don Bankhead, chief of investigation for the Fullerton Police Department. “There are a lot of theories about it; it’s whatever you believe it to be.”

He said he was particularly glad to see decreases in violent crime categories.

Three other Orange County cities were included in the Justice Department report:

- Anaheim, where the overall crime index rose 2.7%, the second year of an increase. Murders and rapes increased slightly, assaults and arsons decreased significantly, and vehicle thefts increased by 20%.

- Garden Grove, which experienced its second consecutive crime index decrease. The new figures showed an overall decline of 1.4% with a plunge of 35% in forcible rape but an increase in murders from 8 in 1984 to 13 in 1985.

- Santa Ana, where the overall crime index rose 1.5%. There was a significant decline in forcible rape (down 20%), aggravated assault (down 24%) and burglary (down 17%), but vehicle thefts rose 27%.

In its report, the Justice Department pointed out that the increase in crime nationwide seemed to run counter to the trends of recent years. The crime index has fallen 12% since 1981.

The Justice Department also conducts the National Crime Survey, a sampling of 49,000 households nationwide to determine how many of the 101,000 family members over 12 years old had been victims of crimes during the previous year.

In contradiction to the crime index, which is based on crime reported to police, the survey indicates that crime in the nation “has not changed significantly from 1984 levels,” the Justice Department said.

Crime Statistics by Category in Orange County’s 5 Largest Cities

Crime Modified Murder Forcible Robbery Aggravated Index* Index** Rape Assault Anaheim 1984: 17,069 17,155 14 105 631 481 1985: 17,571 17,646 16 107 601 438 Change: 2.9% 2.7% 14.3% 1.9% -4.7% -8.9% Fullerton 1984: 6,008 6,036 6 49 167 245 1985: 6,629 6,668 5 33 172 206 Change: 10.3% 10.5% -16.7% -32.6% 3% -15.9% Garden Grove 1984: 9,446 9,502 8 72 372 431 1985: 9,321 9,368 13 47 401 362 Change: -1.3% -1.4% 62.5% -34.7% 7.8% -16% Huntington Beach 1984: 8,818 8,887 8 48 194 249 1985: 8,499 8,537 4 38 172 252 Change: -3.6% -3.9% -50% -20.8% -11.3% 1.2% Santa Ana 1984: 22,098 22,274 39 74 835 790 1985: 22,459 22,610 33 59 865 601 Change: 1.6% 1.5% -15.4% -20.3% 3.6% -23.9%

Burglary Larceny/ Vehicle Arson Theft Theft Anaheim 1984: 5,018 9,398 1,422 86 1985: 5,160 9,543 1,706 75 Change: 2.8% 1.5% 20% -12.8% Fullerton 1984: 1,431 3,566 544 28 1985: 1,537 4,162 514 39 Change: 7.4% 16.7% -5.5% 39.3% Garden Grove 1984: 2,673 5,098 792 56 1985: 2,662 4,982 854 47 Change: -0.4% -2.3% 7.8% -16% Huntington Beach 1984: 2,518 5,042 759 69 1985: 2,350 4,916 767 38 Change: -6.7% -2.5% 1% -44.9% Santa Ana 1984: 6,131 12,414 1,815 176 1985: 5,097 13,490 2,314 151 Change: -16.9% 8.7% 27.5% -14.2%

*The Crime Index is the sum of reported crimes in the first seven listed crime categories.

**The Modified Crime Index is the sum of all listed crime categories, including arson. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, preliminary report for 1985.