LOCAL PROPERTY CRIMES JUMP 27% RISING RATES MIRROR SANTA CLARITA'S GROWTH.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Violent crime dropped in Santa Clarita in 2005, but property crimes jumped an average of 27 percent, according to crime statistics released this week.

The increase in property crimes such as burglaries, auto thefts and arson was proportional to the population growth and a casual attitude toward security.

``If you look at the numbers, given the growth in the area, it's really just one more break-in a month, which is normal,'' said Lt. Bill Weiss of the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station.

``But almost everything on the report is an opportunistic crime. It amazes me how many people leave purses on the floor of their car or laptop computers in the back seat in plain view, then are surprised when someone smashes the window and takes it.''

The population of the area served by the local sheriff's station increased by just over 10 percent in the past year, nearly matching the increase in crimes per 10,000 people. The report shows the 2005 population as 252,127, with 224,317 residents in 2004.

``We're one of the fastest-growing areas around and have a lot of things to attract people,'' Weiss said. ``We have Magic Mountain, the (Interstate) 5 and (state Route) 14 freeway corridors, the (Castaic) lake and all sorts of entertainment. During the weekends, we can have double or triple the normal number of people in town.''

He said burglaries from residential garages, a recent problem around Isabella Parkway and Jakes Way in Canyon Country, are increasing because residents leave side doors open or don't lock roll-down doors.

Weiss added that one or two burglars can be responsible for a large number of incidents.

``We find that once we arrest a couple of guys and make a recovery, that activity seems to stop for a while,'' he said. A recent series of 10 liquor store robberies was attributed to one suspect arrested last month.

Drug use appears linked to burglaries and robberies, Weiss said, with most of those crimes committed by people looking for goods to pawn to buy drugs.

Weiss also said increasing traffic, particularly on weekends, makes it tougher for deputies to get to crime scenes.

``We get more calls for service and sometimes there's a longer response time,'' Weiss said. ``People who live here know it takes a longer time to get from point A to point B.''

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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Santa Clarita Valley Station Crime

SOURCE: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 

Gregg Miller/Staff Artist