Local News in Brief : Reported Crime Rises 13.7% in Simi Valley

Simi Valley police say 13.7% more crimes were reported there last year than in 1985.

About 75% of the increase can be attributed to arrests stemming from police crackdowns on forgery and liquor violations, Lt. Rick TerBorch said.

“There is not a crime wave in Simi Valley,” TerBorch said. “We think the increases are not alarming at all, especially given the fact that the department initiated a good portion of them.”

Reported misdemeanor and felony crimes increased from 5,340 in 1985 to 6,069 in 1986, according to statistics released by the Police Department.

The number of major crimes reported increased from 2,799 to 2,998, or 7.1%, TerBorch said, with robberies, aggravated assaults and automobile thefts showing the largest increases.

In 1985, major crimes in Simi Valley dropped 2.4% after increasing 1.3% the previous year, police said.

Total crimes reported in the eastern Ventura County city increased 6.8% in 1985, after dropping 7.8% the previous year.

TerBorch said total crime in Simi Valley has decreased in the last 11 years, from 7,981 reported crimes in 1975 to 6,069 last year, despite a 37% increase in the population.