San Gabriel Valley Crime Rate Takes Plunge | mdnewsandpr

By Gus Ugalde

San Gabriel Valley ? Building on the momentum of recent years, violent crime rates throughout Southern California decreased nearly 13 percent in 2011.

Violent crimes were down 12.61 percent during the first nine-months of 2011 compared with 2010, and the numbers are even greater over the past five-years.

During the past five-years, violent crimes are down in Southern California by nearly 22 percent, according to a report released in January by the Los Angeles County Sheriff?s department.

The report also details that all serious crimes saw decreases in 2011.

The LASD?s statistics cover 42 contracted cities and several unincorporated communities policed by the department.

Several theories have been advanced for the drop in serious crimes. However, the department itself declined to speculate as to the reasons for the decrease.

Bob Feliciano, Rio Hondo Community College professor of criminal justice, said that the reason for the decrease in crime is aging demographics, according to local reports.

?We have an older society with older crooks, and older crooks don?t commit crimes,? said Feliciano.? ?There?s very few burglars in their 50s,? continued Feliciano.

So-called ?Part 1? crimes, which include murder, robbery, rape and auto theft, have declined by an average of 25 percent at the Industry, San Dimas and Walnut sheriff stations.

The homicide rate in 2011 is the lowest rate in sheriff-patrolled areas since 1965, allowing for changes in population.

Crimes such as robbery, assault, burglary and theft have seen significant decline over the past five years and continued to decline in 2011, according to the report.

Aggravated assaults dropped more than 20 percent in the Walnut station jurisdiction, while robberies declined 14 percent in 2011, continuing the downward trend of nearly 30 percent since 2006.

In an early January press release issued by the LASD, Sheriff Lee Baca credited the community for the drop in crime.

?The reduction of crime statistics is a county-wide effort,? said Baca.

?The people in the community and members of local governments have worked diligently with station commanders and deputies to design solutions to crime that involve equal parts enforcement and intervention,? added Baca.

Although the crime rate drop in the San Gabriel Valley is encouraging, Feliciano thinks it is only a temporary trend.

?Unfortunately, we have a new cadre of young people coming up,? said Feliciano.

The report, which is more than 100 pages long, can be found at the sheriff departments website at www.lasd.org.

Source: http://mdnewsandpr.com/san-gabriel-valley-crime-rate-takes-plunge/

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