ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Communities That Cope With Crime

Controlling crime is a frustrating task that takes more than just strong law enforcement. Judging from state statistics, it helps if communities have been well-planned to begin with so that criminals aren’t attracted by the opportunities they find in poorly organized neighborhoods. But no matter how a community is configured, keeping crime down seems to be strongly tied to the effort that its residents are willing to put into anti-crime programs.

That’s worth remembering because Orange County’s crime rate rose 2.4% in 1991 over the previous year, according to state statistics released recently. Although the rate is still relatively low compared to other urban areas, including Los Angeles, any such increase should be cause for concern.

The statistics also indicate that some new communities, such as those in South County, that had been relatively free of crime are being hit hard now. Crime, it would seem, comes with growth.

Stanton continues to have the worst rate in the county. But even so, its rate dropped 3.8% in 1991. Some Stanton residents are working hard to curb gangs and other criminal operations. Among the community’s newer programs is Stand Together Now, a group of apartment residents who work with children to provide recreation and other activities that might keep them away from crime.

At the other end of the spectrum is Irvine, which had the fewest incidents of violent crime in the county. Police credit the city’s “community concept” for its low rate.

But healthy communities can be formed anywhere that people care enough to band together for the good of their neighborhoods. Police can help, of course. But active citizen groups are just as important.

Crime Rate Up Orange County’s major-crime rate rose 2.4% in 1991. Since 1987, the rate has risen an average 1.3% per year. Major crimes per 10,000 people: 1987: 252 1988: 248 1989: 256 1990: 258 1991: 264