by Carolyn Seitz
Below are three pages of the preliminary crime statistics released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for all areas of the County serviced by the Sheriff for the 2011 through September 30, 2011. These statistics show you the same period of time for calendar years 2006, 2010 and 2011 for purposes of comparison.
The first page shows you how the Altadena Station compares to all of the other Sheriff's service areas for Part I crimes. Altadena continues to experience a significant reduction in Part I crimes compared to all of the other stations, except that this month, Altadena's year to date reduction in these crimes is 32.1% and the Station on Catalina Island has experienced a 32.2% reduction in crime.
The second page gives you a breakdown for Altadena showing both Part I crimes and Property crimes. Please note that Altadena's crime statistics show a reduction in all crimes except forcible rape. As has been reported for many months, Lieutenant Dempsey has indicated that the five rapes reported earlier this year were all committed by a person or persons known to the victims. Altadena has experienced a 34.7% reduction in property crimes with burglaries down by 33.2%, larceny down by 34.7% and grand theft auto down by 40.7%.
The last page shows you a breakdown of Part 1 crimes and property crimes.
These reductions in crime are a direct result of outstanding diligent and creative work being done by the Captain and Lieutenants who provide leadership and guidance to the Deputies and Detectives who serve this community, and to the growing willingness of the residents who continue reporting suspicious activity.
The easiest path to conviction of criminals is to catch them in the act. It's that much harder for them to successfully plead that the stolen property in their possession magically appeared in the stolen vehicle they're driving. Believe it or not, criminals have successfully avoided prosecution because the person who owned the vehicle that was reported stolen refuses to press charges, and if we can prosecute anyone for being in possession of a stolen vehicle because the owner of the vehicle won't participate, then that criminal walks free - there is little to no way to prove that the stolen property in that vehicle at the time of the suspect's arrest was stolen by them. Sound silly? Unfortunately, it's all to frequently the way it goes and that criminal is on the street again, gaining more skill at avoiding being caught in the act of stealing your "stuff".
Please continue to partner to prevent crime. Call the Sheriff's Station at 626 798 1131.
Your calls are helping make it uncomfortable for criminals to knock on doors telling one neighbor they're trying to earn money for Disneyland and your next door neighbor they're selling home security systems, or are in your backyard because they needed a drink of water.
Please call! We can't keep making progress at reducing crime without you.
Many thanks!
