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Report ranks T.O., Simi safety in top 10
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Two Ventura County communities were among the midsize and large cities reporting the fewest violent and property crimes in 2007, according to data released Monday by the FBI.
Thousand Oaks' 146 reported violent crimes was the fifth fewest for cities with populations near or above 100,000, according to the FBI's preliminary Uniform Crime Report, which collects crime statistics from 12,032 law enforcement agencies around the nation.
Simi Valley had the 10th fewest violent crimes, with 181.
Cary, N.C., topped the list, with only 134 violent crimes. Amherst Town, N.Y.; Bellevue, Wash., and Irvine rounded out the top five.
The FBI's violent crime category includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
In the property crime category, Thousand Oaks was fourth, with 1,942 reported incidents. Simi Valley was 10th again, with 2,383.
Centennial, Colo., reported the fewest property crimes at 1,605. Burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and arson are included in this category.
Most cities with the fewest reported crimes were in the bottom 100 in terms of population on the list of 257 cities with close to or more than 100,000 residents.
Oxnard, with a population larger than 143 cities on the list, had the 104th lowest number of reported violent crimes and the 65th lowest number of property crimes. Ventura, which has the 23rd smallest population on the list, was 35th lowest for violent crime and 47th for property crime.
The FBI cautions against using data in its Uniform Crime Report to rank cities against one another, even on a per-capita basis.
It says such rankings can create misleading perceptions with simplistic or incomplete analyses.
"There are a number of factors that affect crimes from place to place," said Bill Carter, an FBI spokesman. "You could have an anomaly."
For example, if a resort community is ranked based only on its permanent population without including visitors, it would give an inaccurate picture of crime per capita, Carter said.
Thousand Oaks officials said their city's numbers tell a positive story about the community, but they are only one indicator of public safety.
City Manager Scott Mitnick said the statistics were especially interesting because Thousand Oaks has a vibrant economy, while some of the other cities with few crimes are strictly bedroom communities. "If a city is primarily a bedroom community, it's very easy to have a low crime rate," he said.
Thousand Oaks Police Chief Dennis Carpenter said he compares his city's crime statistics with previous years but not with other communities. "In some ways, it's apples and oranges," he said.
Simi Valley Police Chief Mike Lewis said the total number of crimes in Simi gives an accurate picture of public safety in his city. Like many law enforcement agencies in the county, Simi Valley police reported a drop in violent crime and an increase in property crime in 2007.
Some cities bucked the trend. Violent and property crime went up in Ventura in 2007, and both dropped in Oxnard, police said.
Nationwide, violent crime was 1.4 percent lower in 2007 than in 2006, and property crime was down by 2.1 percent, according to the FBI.
The drop in violent crime came after two years of increased violence nationwide. The FBI reported a 1.9 percent rise in violent crime in 2006 and a 2.3 percent increase in 2005.
The downturn in property crime was the largest in four years. Nationwide, the largest declines were an 8.9 percent drop in vehicle theft, a 4.3 percent decrease in rape and a 2.7 percent decrease in murder.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Posted by tinacristy01 on June 10, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Moorpark is the safest but they can't count Moorpark in because it only has a pop. Of 37,000
Posted by goldeneye on June 10, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our great Sheriff Brooks watches over this county and keeps it safe for all of us. I am shocked to see that because he fires one employee that people would come out of the woodwork to bash him.
The Sheriff is a true crime fighter. He's a strong Christian and a man of faith and character. I saw him speak once and was greatly impressed by him. Faith and character matter when we elect leaders. People of faith will show up by the tends of thousands to re-elect this great man.
I will pray for his good health and continued sound judgment and wisdom.
Posted by 2smokingbarrels on June 10, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These two cities are safe if you have money and are white. Every time I go down there I am borderline harassed by the law enforcement and too afraid to say anything to avoid another Rodney Kingesque questioning.
Posted by JohnInSimi on June 10, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm white but I don't have tons of money. Heck, I'm still looking for that silver spoon everyone says I'm supposed to have.
Posted by 2smokingbarrels on June 10, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hell I'm lucky if I find a plastic spoon.
Posted by Daddio on June 10, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Re: 2smokingbarrels comment
Dude, get a clue! You use a screen name which implies that you carry around a shotgun and then wonder why you are harrassed by law enforcement.
Posted by Poppa on June 10, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sheriff Brooks keeps up safe? News flash, The Simi PD keeps Simi safe, not Brooks. He has Christian faith? Does that mean he will accept no help from Mike Osborn at the VCRCC who has been taking money from tobacco companies and gambling interests?
Posted by VeritasLuxMea on June 10, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JohnInSimi - Funny! I am so tired of hearing how being "white" makes you rich. Go tell that to Oprah...
I am just fine with my junk metal spoons - it gets the Cherrios into my mouth just fine.
Posted by thousandoaks on June 10, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't believe it...How many police happenings ultimately disappear under the raidar and are not reported? Maybe it would be wise to call the DA's office to find out how many of the "reports" go missing....remember...only the really serious problems require District Attorney involvment. When an entire neighborhood has to write up affidavides because non of the 30 or so police officers can recall the event?
Posted by SpiderWoman on June 10, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"We don't need no stinkin spoons!"
Posted by FedUp on June 10, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they will continue to drop in rankings, as long as they continue to be a sanctuary for illegals. mark my words. this is only a drop in the hat. they will both be out of the top twenty next year, and then will continue to fall.
oh yeah, where is my silver spoon? 2smokingbarrels? nice screen name. you are probably a tagger as well.
Posted by 2smokingbarrels on June 10, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thats why I get harassed? I apoligize, I didn't even know the cops knew my screen name. All this time I thought it was because I drove a POS car and have dark skin. My bad! Sawy Masser, won't let it appen 'gin.
Posted by Ms_California on June 10, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would imagine that crime both violent and property will increase this year as the price of food and gas increase, this will happen in all cities and states.
Posted by happytrails on June 10, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey,
Simi and T.O. can have their safe city. It is usually too damn hot or too cold to live there. Give me the ocean air any day! Simi in the spring and summer is like living on the sun. I lived in T.O. for four years and I have been pulled over for a DWB (driving while brown) a few times. Stop profiling! Can't a brown man get to the university without being harrassed?
Posted by FedUp on June 10, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
so those of you who have been "profiled" have you ever been convicted of a crime, or were you given an actual ticket for a violation during these stops? or are you just upset that you were delayed 5-10 minutes on your way to wherever the heck you were going? I have several friends who are not of the "white" pursuasion. a handful have been pulled over, and never ticketed. they did not seem to mind being delayed a couple of minutes, if it meant that the police were trying to keep the streets safer. sounds like you two have had alot of experience in this department, which tells me you actually do have something criminal going on.
Posted by happytrails on June 10, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
deadup,
I mean fedup,
I guess it is ok to be pulled over for no other reason then skin color. I should just take my delay of 5-10 min. and accept it as standard practice. If we all did that then Jim Crow would still be around. Truth be told, you are an idiot!!!!! I will be looking for your name in the obituaries one day!
Posted by happytrails on June 10, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey goofy,
"A lot" is two words.
Posted by VeritasLuxMea on June 10, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are we back on race, AGAIN!
Put a fork in it.......actual, this time, put a spoon in it. It's done!
Posted by FedUp on June 10, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
how do you know you are actually being pulled over because the color of your skin? I have also been pulled over, and not been given a ticket. they claimed it was for an illegal lane change or something like that. they did not issue me a ticket. I was willing to bet they thought I was someone else, or were looking for someone who was driving a vehicle similar to mine. Not all cops are bad. you people who are complaing about "profiling", probably have something to hide...
oh yeah, nice name calling. real mature.
Posted by sdetatae on June 10, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i'd much rather have an ethical leader than a religious one. (yes, i think there are wonderful people of faith, but i think there are just as many despicable ones)
i'd rather have routine random stops by the police than profiling of a few different types. let everyone have "5-10 min delay" every so often rather than a select group
race? funny... i remember the drug dealers that lived next door to me were caucasian.
safety? yes, these are uber safe neighborhoods. great place to live? i guess so if you have no desire for an urban or rural life.
Posted by 2smokingbarrels on June 11, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fed Up,
I am also fed up with the whole racial issue but the fact of the matter is, racism is alive and well especially is Simi. My father is white and my mom is mexican. I got all her traits with his last name. I have been pulled over twice in Simi and both times I was told that I was pulled over because they thought the car I was driving was stolen. Why? Because I'm mexican with a white name. This is what the officers told me. So I'm not assuming they are profiling, they are. I am a professional, well-educated, and brown; that is my offense.
Posted by happytrails on June 11, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
2smokingbarrels,
It is unfortunate that this had to happen to you. Stop crying! It is only a 5-10 minute inconvenience for your own safety and protection. Wait that sounds too much Like fedup. 2smokingbarrels I have been pulled over as well for similar reasons. The last time, I had just purchased a car, and I was on my way to a job interview. I was dressed in a suit. I had a hat on backwards to push my hair back. I realized that I was almost out of gas and I needed to get some. A station happened to be a couple of blocks away. I sped up to pass a car on my right to get into the station. A sheriff put on his lights and pulled me over. I did nothing illegal. He did not ask me what I did wrong. He came to the car and asked Why I tried to avoid him and whose car was this? He had already assumed that the car I was driving was not mine. He took my license and casually walked back to his car. 10-15 min. later he slowly walked back and said this was my lucky day. appparently he had just received an emergency call and I was free to go. What the hell did I do to begin with? He slowly walked back to his car and waited till I left. If there was some kind of emergency he had to go to; his acctions did not show it. This is a problem that truly needs to be stopped! Oh, I really feel protected.
Posted by jbh50 on June 12, 2008 at 5:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
2smokingbarrels,
Whah, whah, whah...."why is everyone always picking on me". Whah, whah, whah.
Posted by axel718 on June 12, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thousandoaks.........obviously you are sorely misinformed. If you have a problem with a case being dismissed call the DA's office. They are the ones that decide to file a case and not the police.
2smokinbarrels and happytrails.......QUIT CRYING....I am sure you two have no problem with the millions of illegal aliens that are infesting the United States..... Here is an idea go to Mexico where everyone is brown. Then you when you get stopped by the police down there and get robbed then you will have a reason to complain.
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