A.V. SEES DECREASE IN CRIME; ASSAULT, RAPE, BURGLARY DOWN IN PALMDALE, LANCASTER.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer PALMDALE - Serious crime dropped significantly in Lancaster and Palmdale during 1998, with robberies and auto thefts leading the decline, FBI statistics released today show. ``Part One'' crimes, which include murder, rape, assault and burglary, fell by 17.6 percent in Lancaster and 14.6 percent in Palmdale from 1997 to 1998, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), division of the U.S. Dept. of Justice charged with investigating all violations of federal laws except those assigned to some other federal agency. . ``The decline is a result of our residents working together with our sheriff's department,'' said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. ``I'm pleased. We're going in the right direction.'' Robberies dropped 28.4 percent and auto theft 27.4 percent in Palmdale. In Lancaster, robberies were down 25.8 percent and auto theft 27.2 percent. However, arson arson, at common law, the malicious and willful burning of the house of another. Originally, it was an offense against the security of habitation rather than against property rights. jumped nearly 19 percent in Palmdale, while the number of rapes reported in Lancaster rose 7.5 percent, officials said. Homicides in both cities rose by one, going from six to seven in Palmdale and from seven to eight in Lancaster. In Palmdale, FBI statistics showed rape down 19.6 percent, larceny larceny, in law, the unlawful taking and carrying away of the property of another, with intent to deprive the owner of its use or to appropriate it to the use of the perpetrator or of someone else. down 16.6 percent, burglary down 7.2 percent and aggravated assault A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he or she attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another or causes such injury purposely, knowingly, or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life; or attempts to cause or purposely or down 4.4 percent. In Lancaster, assault was down 9.6 percent, burglary down 25.1 percent, larceny down 12.3 percent and arson 27.5 percent. Palmdale officials attributed their city's drop in crime to aggressive policing tactics, which have resulted in numerous arrests of parolees, probationers and other career criminals. ``The Sheriff's Department is doing a fantastic job,'' said Ledford. ``We're seeing the results of community based policing.'' Ledford said that renewed economy is also having a positive impact on crime. ``There is an improved quality of life,'' said Ledford. Earlier this year, Lancaster officials praised a new program tracking career criminals and another aimed at suppressing gang violence as helping in their decrease in crimes. Officials said that they were also beginning to see results of undercover sting operations Noun 1. sting operation - a complicated confidence game planned and executed with great care (especially an operation implemented by undercover agents to apprehend criminals) dubbed dub 1 tr.v. dubbed, dub·bing, dubs 1. To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood. 2. To honor with a new title or description. 3. Men in Black and Men in Black II, which targeted stolen merchandise. ``It's sounds like our Men in Black (results) finally caught up with us,'' said Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts Frank Roberts may refer to:
An anonymous crime tip line and a gang violence program that teams deputies, a county probation officer probation officer n. 1. An official usually attached to a juvenile court and charged with the care of juvenile delinquents. 2. An official charged with supervising convicts at large on suspended sentence or probation. and a prosecutor who specializes in gang crimes were also credited for contributing to the decrease. ``I just think that our community watch that we're actually pursuing is making a difference,'' said Roberts. ``(Residents) have to use the magic number. They have to take the responsibility themselves.'' CRIME STATISTICS The following figures are a comparison of crime statistics for 1998 and 1997. LANCASTER Crime '98 '97 Change Homicide homicide (hŏm`əsīd), in law, the taking of human life. Homicides that are neither justifiable nor excusable are considered crimes. A criminal homicide committed with malice is known as murder, otherwise it is called manslaughter. 8 7 14.3% Rape 57 52 9.6% Robbery 253 341 -25.8% Assault 1,021 1,129 -9.6% Burglary 1,215 1,623 -25.1% Larceny 2,190 2,498 -12.3% Auto theft 624 857 -27.2% Arson 37 51 -27.2% TOTAL 5,405 6,558 -17.6% PALMDALE Crime '98 '97 Change Homicide 7 6 14.3% Rape 37 46 -19.6% Robbery 197 275 -28.4% Assault 879 919 -4.4% Burglary 1,063 1,146 -7.2% Larceny 2,028 2,431 -16.6% Auto theft 581 800 -27.4% Arson 44 37 18.9% TOTAL 4,836 5,660 -14.6% SOURCE: Federal Bureau of Investigation CAPTION(S): Chart Chart: Crime Statistics (see text) |
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