Report Says Crime in Antelope Valley Declined Slightly

Despite increases in rapes and assaults, reported crime in the Antelope Valley declined slightly overall last year and even more when adjusted for population growth, according to new law enforcement statistics.

The Los Angeles County sheriff’s tally of eight types of reported crime in Lancaster, Palmdale and nearby unincorporated areas showed a decline of one-quarter of 1% from 1989 levels. And after adjusting for population increases, the per capita crime rate fell about 15%.

“We’re looking real good actually,” said Sgt. Robert Denham of the sheriff’s Antelope Valley station, which patrols a nearly 1,300-square-mile area. “I thought we were going to see a 20% to 30% increase.”

Two major crimes were up substantially in 1990. Reports of rapes rose 33%, to 121, and reported assaults jumped 32.7%, to 2,480. Homicides increased by one, to a total of 16, according to sheriff’s figures. Reported robberies increased 6.4% to 347 last year.

Denham attributed the rape and assault numbers to more frequent reporting by victims. In the past, victims of assaults, particularly in rape or domestic violence cases, might not have told police, Denham said. But he said greater awareness of victims’ rights has led to more reporting of those crimes.

Reports of burglaries fell 9.3%, larceny declined 6.2%, grand theft auto was down 4.7%, and arson dropped 28.6%, according to the sheriff’s statistics.

The numbers came amid what sheriff’s officials said was a 17.3% population increase in the Antelope Valley, from about 220,000 in 1989 to about 258,000 last year. “It’s really unusual for the crime rate to go down when the population rate is going up,” Denham said.

Total reported crimes among the eight categories tallied by deputies dropped from 11,812 in 1989 to 11,781 last year. On a population-adjusted basis, the crime rate per 10,000 people fell from 537 in 1989 to 457 last year, deputies said.

A comparison by community showed Palmdale with a 9.8% increase in overall crime and Lancaster with a 7.9% drop, according to sheriff’s figures. The unincorporated areas had a 3% increase.

When adjusted for population, the statistic showed that crime rates declined by 22.4% in Palmdale, the valley’s fastest-growing city, by 13.2% in Lancaster and by 10.1% in unincorporated areas, deputies said.

Palmdale’s homicides increased from two in 1989 to five last year. Lancaster had four each year. But homicides in the unincorporated areas dropped from nine in 1989 to seven last year. The sheriff’s report did not include a breakdown of gang-related crime.