RESIDENTS SAFE AT HOME SOUTHLAND CITIES AMONG MOST SECURE REGIONS.

Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer

Five of the eight safest cities in America lie in the area around the Greater San Fernando Valley region, according to an analysis of federal crime statistics released Monday.

Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Santa Clarita, Burbank and Ventura each reported fewer - in some cases far fewer - than 3,000 crimes in 1999. Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, among the nation's cities with more than 100,000 residents for the second straight year.

Even Los Angeles, which maintained California's highest homicide total last year with 424, saw the number decrease from 426 in 1998. Still, Los Angeles was second only to New York for the most crimes with 167,494 major incidents.

The local drop in crime mirrors a nationwide trend, which has seen a 7 percent decline from last year, eight years into its longest-running crime decline on record.

Preliminary figures for crimes reported to police in 1999 extended a trend begun in 1992, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That eight-year crime decline is now nearly three times longer than the second-longest decline - the three years from 1982 through 1984.

Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks said he was optimistic the decline would continue.

``We believe we're on the way to continuing the trend,'' he said Monday night at a meeting of the Studio City Residents Association. ``We believe we are making an impact, but it is absolutely essential we have the understanding and support of the community.''

Allen Abrahamse, a consultant to Santa Monica-based Rand Corp., who studied crime over the past decade, highlighted several theories as to why crime has been declining. One theory, he said, is that children today might be reacting against the violence they experienced when they were just getting out of diapers.

``If you take the 18-year-olds of today, who are the ones who are committing the violent crimes the most, they were 10 in 1993 when the crime rate peaked,'' he said.

``So they're sort of coming into their adulthood when their brothers and uncles were getting killed at high rates. They reacted against the violence they saw and decided not to commit as much crime.''

The FBI report said all seven major types of crime were down overall - not only nationwide but also in each region of the nation, and in suburbs, rural areas and in cities of all sizes.

The violent crimes of homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault were down a combined 7 percent, led by murder and robbery, both down 8 percent. Rape and assault were down 7 percent each.

The national comparison of U.S. cities of 100,000 or more brought mixed news to Santa Clarita, which has had perennial bragging rights as the third- or fourth-safest city.

Crime is down in Santa Clarita, but the city has dropped to sixth place on the FBI's list. Homicide, rape, assault, burglary, theft and auto theft dropped, while increases were recorded in robberies and arson.

``What's happening is that crime is down, but there are cities that have just broken the 100,000 mark and getting onto the list,'' Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tim Peters said.

For the second year in a row, and the fourth time in the past seven years, Simi Valley has staked its claim as the nation's safest city.

Simi Valley reported the fewest number of crimes in 1999, just ahead of neighboring Thousand Oaks, based on an analysis of FBI crime statistics for cities with more than 100,000 residents. The city of Ventura ranked No. 8.

``Obviously we think this is great,'' Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis said Monday. ``It is not something that we normally expect. But we have said to the Police Department, 'Just tell us what you need and you'll get it.' ''

Burbank ranked seventh among cities its size across the nation, and sixth among California cities. The news of the city's high showing came as a surprise to some on the police force but the word was very much welcome.

``We're pleased that the community is being recognized for having such a high quality of life, which it does,'' said Lt. Robert Giles. ``I'm sure that the city's administration and the chief are all pleased to see that the efforts that are being put forward are paying off.''

Palmdale came in 26th and Lancaster 32nd in a ranking of 225 large American cities, listed by which reported the fewest serious crimes last year, FBI statistics show.

Based on the statistics released in February by the Lancaster and Palmdale sheriff's stations, Palmdale had 3,867 serious crimes and Lancaster 4,107 in 1999, the FBI said.

The FBI statistics show that some cities can have more homicides and robberies but less serious crime overall because of fewer reports of burglaries, assaults or thefts.

Lancaster had five homicides, 183 robberies and 887 aggravated assaults.

Elsewhere in Southern California, San Diego's homicide rate rose from 42 to 57, followed by Long Beach, which increased from 38 to 46.

But homicides were down in Anaheim, from 18 to 15, and San Bernardino, which racked up more than 60 murders in a year barely a decade ago, dropped to 23 in 1999, down from 41 a year earlier.

Rand consultant Abrahamse cautioned that while the decline in violent crime is heartening, it doesn't mean we can let up our guard.

``Many countries our size and with our degree of education have much lower rates than ours. It takes more than just cops. Cops can only deal with the problems once it becomes a problem. Much of this violence we need to deal with has to do with better parenting.''

Staff Writers Joseph Giordono, Patricia Farrell Aidem, Charles F. Bostwick and Sylvia L. Oliande contributed to this report.

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