ANTELOPE VALLEY – Violent crimes, which include homicide, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault, have increased by 16% in Lancaster and 3.5% in Palmdale, according to a report released by the Sheriff’s Department this week.
The report includes a comparison of the crime rates for the first six months of this year with the same period in 2011.
In Lancaster, homicides jumped 100% (from 4 to 8); while in Palmdale, homicides dropped by 42% (from 7 to 4).
Robberies in Palmdale have also decreased by 6.6% (from 136 to 117), while robberies have increased in Lancaster by nearly 24% (from 135 to 167).
Both places have seen a rise in rapes – up 26 % in Palmdale (from 19 to 24) and 36% in Lancaster (from 19 to 26).
Property crimes, which include burglary, larceny theft, grand theft auto, and arson, have also increased in Lancaster and Palmdale.
In Lancaster, property crimes jumped by 23.9%, and in Palmdale, property crimes were up by 16.3%.
The rate of violent and serious crime has increased in all 42 contract cities and over 100 unincorporated communities where the Sheriff is the official policing agency, according to L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.
Antonovich blames prison realignment for the crime increase.
“The District Attorney was right when he predicted that there would be a spike in crime as a result of the Governor’s irresponsible realignment program,” Antonovich said in a news release. “This law needs to be changed — our cities and counties are being victimized by it.”
View the reports for Lancaster and Palmdale below (click on the images to enlarge).
View the full 119-page report here.
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Fred Gispachio says
We’ve lost our community to these criminals. PD can’t keep up, despite their best efforts. I am getting the hell out of this valley, and never looking back. I have lived here since 1985 and never has it been like this. Good riddance AV, this place is complete garbage now. I hate sharing my mall and parks with these thugs, and I can’t think of anyone who would want to raise their kids in this environment. These animals are ruining our valley, and its too far gone to save.
sacryinshame says
Fred, most of the PD focus in on a certain group of people and will not respond to most calls that do not include their targeted group.
They tell us to be watchful of vacant houses. Then scold us for calling them about a side gate and back patio door being open on a vacant house, adding to call if we SEE someone in the house. Nevermind that the house next door to the vacant house was robbed during the day.
Another example, partying TEENS drag a friend, who had OD’d (?)to a yard around their block because they want to keep the party going. The SD responds and want to take the girl home to that party house because they think she is JUST drunk…? She did end up transported to the hospital and the house had 5 arrests. There are alcohol bottles broken all over the street in front of the house. Neighbors had been calling the station to report the noisy party with no response. Oh, by the way, the house is 2 doors from a LASD Deputy.
We haven’t lost our community yet, but, we are losing a lot of the battles with the kids, criminals and sadly the LASD.
Most of us do praise the LASD when they do catch a criminal…even though that is their job. They seem to be very aloof and disconnected from people in the community.
The LASD always has an excuse for not responding. Sometimes they show up 5 or 6 hours later. Meanwhile, drive by Tom’s, Apollo Park, the Greenhouse Cafe or a couple of other locations and you will see lots of cop cars.
I appreciate that
Fred Gispachio says
I’ve lived here since 1985 and have never seen it like this. The AV has essentially become garbage. I hate sharing my community with most of the animals that I see around town nowadays. I have so much love and respect for our PD here, but they can’kt keep up, obviously. I’m getting the hell out of this valley as soon as I can. Who the hell wants to raise their kids in this environment? I assume most of these criminals have children that go to school with our kids, turning our schools into garbage too. Good riddance AV I’m never looking back when I leave.
Mike says
Where are you gonna run to Fred? Sure, we got our problems here but you cant keep running. If you do then nothing changes. Stay around and wait it out. When the economy turns around (which it already is) it will get better here. I can almost promise that! The investors will sell their homes to actual home owners and the Section 8 element will have to pack up and go. Where they go I really don’t care, but they will! If you love a community and care about it then you stay and fight and be part of the solution. Have kids? You find other families that share your values (in church or where ever) and you network and do things with them. I have lived in many places and seen many things. I have lived in Nebraska, Nevada, Arizona all of which are very White states and there are the same kinds of problems – violence, shootings, methamphetamines, robbery etc.
There are some bad individuals in the AV right now, I will grant you that. But their time here is limited and is reliant on a stagnant economy. They will either be killed by other thugs, arrested or run out of town on a rail when their Section 8 home is sold for a profit. Trust me. These people don’t lead stable, productive lives and they will be the victims of their own stupidity.
Homes on the west side will start to naturally increase in value first, which will push the most of the trash to the east side. Then eventually the east side will pick up in value and the trash will be pushed out of the Valley entirely.
S. Parker says
Great comment Mike! I agree 1000%! I say we stay here and fight. If we don’t, who will be here to help our seniors, vets, and disabled who can’t afford to leave the Antelope Valley in their rearview mirror?
David Cox says
Mike, you and I have much in common on this issue. The “let’s run from the problem” folks are many. . . but the “let’s stay right here and *make* community” folks are few.
Speaking of networking, in the City of Lancaster you’ll find the Neighborhood Impact program, which is staffed by volunteers from several different churches in Lancaster, including mine. I’ve participated in this program for some time now, and have seen heartening results that lead youth and adults away from a life of crime and delinquency, and to a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self control. Stable and productive lives.
Speaking to especially Fred, and folks like him: I would strongly encourage you to begin volunteering in whatever capacity you are able to with Neighborhood Impact. This is where the hearts and minds of the younger generation are going to be won for the good of the community which resides in the City of Lancaster and the greater Antelope Valley. It’s very quiet work, very unassuming work, but ultimately very rewarding and gratifying, community building work. I invite you to give it a try! Questions? Please contact me via my weblog hyperlinked with my name above. Thanks.
ryenisha jackson says
well at least we have refab apartments to keep the thugs happy for awhile lol
sikntired says
Haha. Ryenisha, Ya but only if they are drug addicts.
sikntired says
Oops,my bad I guess ex -offenders could be anything.Wonderful.
sikntired says
So what is the penalty for illegal carry? And I do believe if they come thru the door you can blast away since you are afraid for your life.
By the way Ace, more and more women are liking guns and a lot of men in politics need to grow a pair .Just sayin.
sikntired says
Shiny black is fine with me, long as it fires at the bad guys.
DBxx says
Ace =\
Quigley says
Hmmm, I guess I should should be happy I live in Palmdale? How bout we invite Governor Brown to come stay in the fabulous Antelope Valley so he can get a hands on feeling of what is happening in our community, of course he would have to remove his blinders. Anyone have a house for rent?
Alex says
Haha, Ace, I do agree with you for the most part. The only way citizens in California will be able to get their 2nd amendment rights back is to ignore the politicians and go straight to a ballot measure.
I wish the NRA would grow the balls to help push for a ballot initiative in California, but there is a lot of money earned by gun companies in California because of the selective DoJ choices in California, people wouldn’t be afraid of bs political hype (which would drop knee jerk gun buying which is big money) because unless it is declared unconstitutional by a higher court a Ballot measure approved by the citizens of the state takes precedence over any legislative law.
Well armed citizens can protect against all threats, domestic or foreign. It would be better if all citizens could be armed against gangbangers (be it NLR, eMe, etc.) It would help keep all citizens safer, no matter there race. 2nd amendment rights should become something discussed more and supported by the NAACP for protection AGAINST hate groups.
Alex says
Here is an article you might like Ace:
http://www.gleamingedge.com/mirrors/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html
“This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.” -LTC (RET) Dave Grossman, author of “On Killing.”
S. Parker says
This confuses me. I thought crime was down in Lancaster and Palmdale was the one going to hell in a hand basket. But judging from these numbers, it seems it’s the exact opposite. I don’t know what to believe any more.
Stay safe out there deputies…
Alex says
Time to allow a Castle and limited Stand Your Ground law in California as well as CCWs for any one with no record and ties to gangs who pass a psychological examination.