Surf City is still a safe city, too

Surf City lost the distinction of being one of the 10 safest cites in

the nation this year when the 2002 uniform crime statistics were

released by the FBI last week.

Police tell us this means very little.

The FBI urges people to ignore “meaningless” rankings and look at

the numbers.

But for most people, it sounds significant. Some residents are

likely saying, “I knew it,” while other profess disbelief. But

overall it makes most people curious and a bit nervous.

Surf City -- in the amount of crime and level of protection -- is

not much different than it was last year or the year before, police

assure us. Last year, when Huntington Beach was in the top 10 and

named safest large city in Orange County, the community had already

been rocked by several shootings suspected to be gang related.

When asked if gang activity and crime were on the rise, police

said no. They said there are always shootings, but people don’t

always die.

It may not be the most comforting news to rehash, but undeniably

logical, nonetheless.

It also reinforces what the police and the FBI have said.

Shootings are not on the statistics list and neither are the most

common crimes now talking place in the city, police said. The most

common crime is identity theft, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Dan

Johnson tells us. Thieves are not taking the risks involved with

breaking into a home as often, because they’ve found a way to steal

without as much risk, he said.

Despite what seems to be grim news, there is a bright spot: Surf

City is as safe as it ever was.

The number of crimes reported in Huntington Beach dropped by more

than 100, from 4,500 to 4,385. The number of reported rapes,

burglaries and arson cases all went down, as well.

While murder, theft and aggravated assault did rise in 2002, we

see these fluctuations in numbers every year. Sometimes, burglary

goes up, sometimes, it goes down. Sometimes, the number of reported

arsons goes up, sometimes, it goes down. These numbers mean very

little from year to year. They are meant to be watched over a broader

time frame to look for a number that is always on the rise, a trend.

So let’s remember to watch these numbers, but don’t let them scare

you or make you feel too secure. Residents should take the same

precautions with their safety that they always have.