Marge Nichols has provided a helpful breakdown of Altadena's share in the LA County Sheriff's Dept.'s 2008 statistics, which compare 2007 to 2008.

Of course, the Sept. 21 press conference report from the LA Times  — which included the rise in crime in Altadena — compared 2008 and 2009 year-to-date stats, , that is, until September of each year — Marge's stats appear to be based on year end.  Keep that all in mind!

Here's a summary of Altadena crime data and links to some relevant pages of the 2008 Sheriff's Dept report.  While violent crime reports were lower than 2007, less serious offenses drove up the total reported in the Times.

 

• Violent crime* in Altadena is modest compared to many other communities.

          2008 rates for some communities in our Sheriff's Department Region include:

• Altadena                  197
• Crescenta Valley        211 
• Lancaster                370
• Palmdale                 309
• Temple Stn.             208 (Duarte, Rosemead, Temple City, etc.)              

• Altadena's violent crime rate actually declined, from 883 in 2007 to 857 in 2008

• Less serious Part II** crimes rose from 1,406 in 2007 to 1,949 in 2008.  The largest increases were in vehicle incidents, narcotics and vandalism.

• 7% of stolen property was recovered in 2008, compared with 14% in 2007

2008 Arrests:  1,883 adults and 104 juveniles were arrested in 2008
 
2008 Type of Crimes:

• Leading violent crimes were larceny theft, 383; burglary, 222; and assault, 109.
• Leading Part II reports were 842 vehicle incidents, 345 narcotics, 183 fraud or NSF check, 174 vandalism.

Definitions:
*Violent (Part I) crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny theft, grand theft auto and arson.
**Less serious (Part II) crimes include forgery, fraud/NSF check, narcotics, vehicle incidents, vandalism and many other offenses.
 
Links for more information:

Comparative Crime Rate Field Operations I (northern LA County stations)

http://www.lasd.org/sites/yir9600/yir2008/18.pdf  

Altadena Station summary (major crimes reported)

http://www.lasd.org/sites/yir9600/yir2008/47.pdf   

Altadena Station detail (major and less serious crimes reported; adult/juvenile arrests)

http://www.lasd.org/sites/yir9600/yir2008/48.pdf   

Site for viewing map of crimes reported in a user-specified area (to look up crimes in the vicinity of an address)

http://www.lasd.org/sites/CAASS/index.html    

Sheriff''s Department home page  http://www.lasd.org/

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