Serious Crime Declines by 15.6% in Lancaster

NORTH COUNTY — Serious crime registered a double-digit decline in Lancaster and rose slightly in Santa Clarita during the first nine months of the year compared to the same period last year, authorities said.

The number of serious crimes in Santa Clarita rose a scant 0.2%, while declining 15.6% in Lancaster, according to statistics released by the sheriff’s stations in the two cities.

The serious crimes tallied were murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, grand theft auto and arson.

Santa Clarita had only half as many serious criminal incidents as Lancaster. Santa Clarita, rated America’s fourth-safest large city by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, had 2,231 incidents, an increase of four over last year. Lancaster had 4,227 serious crimes, 780 fewer than in 1997.

Officials in Santa Clarita pointed out that the population has also increased since last year. The state Department of Finance said the city has about 145,000 residents, about the same as Lancaster.

In the first nine months of the year, Santa Clarita had 395 crimes against people, 63 fewer than last year, and 1,836 property crimes, 67 more than last year. There were five murders.

In Lancaster, there were 1,033 crimes against people, 156 fewer than last year, and 3,194 crimes against property, a decline of 624. The totals included seven murders.