SIMI CROWNED 2ND ON SAFEST-CITY LIST.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

Money magazine has just confirmed what Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks already knew: The two cities are among America's safest places to live.

Money's rankings, which incorporate crime statistics and a survey of what crimes people fear, parallels a previous safe-city ranking by the FBI, which reviewed cities with populations of more than 100,000.

Simi Valley ranked second in the Money listing, and Thousand Oaks placed fourth.

``Regardless of which statistics you focus on, this is a safe community,'' said Laura Herron, Simi Valley's assistant city manager.

The city touts its good safety record when trying to attract businesses, and real estate agents use it as a selling tool, Herron said.

Amherst, N.Y., took the top spot for safety, and Gary, Ind., was dubbed the nation's most dangerous.

According to the magazine's survey the crime Americans fear the most is theft, even more than assault, rape or murder. The New York based-magazine quizzed 500 people about the crime they feared most. The magazine said 62 percent ranked burglary as their top concern, with car theft, 55 percent, and robbery, 54 percent, next on the list. Physically violent crimes followed, with 43 percent of people in the survey fearing assault, 39 percent fearing rape and 35 percent fearing murder.

Money then had a statistical research firm combine cities' FBI statistics with their own numbers. Simi Valley ranked first in the FBI statistics, but second with Money.

Part of Simi Valley's success can be attributed to the interest and support given to the police by everyone from the City Council to average citizens, said Simi Police Chief Randy Adams.

``The entire city takes a zero-tolerance approach to crime,'' Adams said.

Police officers also seek to work with people to eliminate future problems, he said.

Thousand Oaks was second with the FBI and fourth with Money.

Thousand Oaks Councilwoman Linda Parks said the city's good safety record was due to the Police Department and citizen involvement.

``I kind of like it to be a secret, though,'' Parks said. ``I don't want a lot of people moving here because it's safe.''

Gary fared worst in the Money statistical evaluation, earning the designation: America's most dangerous city. Gary, a Chicago suburb in northwest Indiana, had the worst murder rate in the analysis, with 89.6 killings per 100,000 people. That compares with a national average of 7.4 per 100,000.

In contrast, Amherst had no killings in 1996, and had the fewest burglaries in the 207 cities that Money ranked.

According to Money magazine, the top 10 safest communities in the country, descending from the best, are: Amherst; Simi Valley; Sterling Heights, Mich.; Thousand Oaks; Sunnyvale; Irvine; Livonia, Mich.; Santa Clarita; Mesquite and Plano, Texas.

Money's most dangerous cities, starting at the worst, are: Gary; Newark,

N.J.; Atlanta; New Orleans; Detroit; Washington; Baltimore; St. Louis; Miami; and Memphis, Tenn.