ARSON, ROBBERY INCREASE MAJOR CRIME DOWN OVERALL IN VALLEY.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - While serious crimes dropped overall in 1999 in the Santa Clarita Valley, increases of 13 percent in robberies and 30 percent in arson have prompted sheriff's officials to be on higher alert.

Sheriff's officials blamed some of the arson increase on car thieves who, after using vehicles stolen in other areas, apparently have been getting rid of them in remote areas of the Santa Clarita Valley and, to destroy evidence of other crimes, setting fire to them.

Sheriff's officials said some of the increase in arson cases probably results from the community's increasing likelihood to report all suspected crimes. They said this also accounted for major increases in reports of lesser offenses, not tracked by the FBI, of vandalism and graffiti.

The increase in robberies especially concerned sheriff's officials because robberies can turn violent, sheriff's Lt. Tim Peters said.

``Those types of crimes can deteriorate into much more than, I want to take your money,'' Peters said.

Overall, however, officials are pleased about the 7.1 percent decrease from 1998 to 1999 in serious crimes tracked by the FBI: homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, larceny, burglary, auto theft and arson.

Capt. Don Rodriguez, commander of the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station, attributed the decrease to alertness and cooperation of community residents, hard work by deputies and anti-crime programs backed by the mayor and other city officials. Rodriguez said sheriff's deputies feel a personal stake in the community.

``Our deputies not only work here but live here,'' Rodriguez said, noting that 70 percent of the station's personnel reside in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Despite two recent bank robberies by a man whom authorities have nicknamed the Kangaroo Bandit - because of the backpack he has sported in bank robberies from San Diego to Santa Barbara - most Santa Clarita robberies seem to be crimes of opportunity, Peters said.

A sheriff's analysis of 97 of the 103 robberies reported in 1999 showed that 34 occurred in parking lots, 15 at stores or businesses, 10 at fast-food restaurants, seven outside homes, six at gasoline stations and three at schools. Three were home-invasion robberies. Eight were petty thefts that escalated into robberies. Eleven occurred at a variety of locations.

Twenty-two of the robberies occurred between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., 58 between 3 p.m. and midnight and 17 between midnight and 6:59 a.m.

The weapon most likely to be used was a gun - either real or simulated, Peters said.

Peters said officials speedily distribute bulletins about the crimes to keep deputies on patrol alerted.

Mayor Jo Anne Darcy said Santa Clarita's affluence might contribute to the increase in robberies, since it could attract robbers from outside the community.

``We do have more money,'' she said.

``We've had people from the San Fernando Valley (as suspects), and we've had a couple of episodes where we have had people from outside the valley try to hold up a bank,'' Darcy said.

Santa Clarita Valley Crime

The chart shows newly released crime figures for 1999 in the Santa Clarita Valley. Overall major crime dropped compared to the previous year.

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Box: Santa Clarita Valley Crime