Simi, Thousand Oaks Among Top 3 ‘Safe’ Cities : Statistics: Figures for the first six months of 1993 show that both cities, as well as Oxnard, have made significant gains in fighting crime.

There were no safer cities of 100,000 or more people west of New York than Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks during the first half of this year, according to crime statistics compiled by the FBI and released Sunday.

The two east Ventura County cities ranked second and third behind Amherst Town, N. Y., in the number of major crimes reported to local law enforcement agencies between January and June, 1993, the FBI said.

“They’re awesome,” Councilwoman Judy Mikels said of the more than 100 police officers in Simi Valley. “They are doing an outstanding job.”

Simi Valley reported 1,478 major crimes in the first half of the year, with Thousand Oaks reporting 1,711 serious offenses during the same period. The city of Oxnard, Ventura County’s largest city, ranked 41st safest in the nation, reporting 4,489 serious crimes during the first six months of this year.

Amherst Town, a suburb of northeastern Buffalo with a population of 111,711, reported 1,418 major crimes in the first half of 1993.

The FBI report lists 183 cities in the country with populations of more than 100,000, and breaks down the number of major crimes by category--including murder, rape and robbery.

Nationally, violent crime dropped 3% and crimes against property dipped by 5% between the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. Nearby Santa Clarita, in northern Los Angeles County, ranked fourth safest in the country, reporting 1,948 serious crimes between January and June.

Each of the three Ventura County cities on the FBI list made significant gains in crime-fighting over last year.

In the first six months of this year, compared to same six months last year, Simi Valley whittled the number of major crimes by 296, a decrease of 16.7%. Oxnard reported 701 fewer serious crimes during the same period for a 13.5% drop.

Thousand Oaks, which ranked ahead of Simi Valley on the same list a year ago, reported 28 fewer major crimes for a dip of 1.6%. But violent crimes--assault, rape and murder--have occurred more often in Thousand Oaks so far this year, the FBI said.

There were two murders in the city during the first half of 1993, compared to none over the same period last year, the FBI said. Rapes increased about 80%, while assaults climbed about 20%, the report said.

But Thousand Oaks reported about 28% fewer burglaries and nearly 20% fewer robberies this year compared to 1992, the FBI said.

“I am concerned about the increase in gang violence and more serious crimes, like the rapes and the assaults,” Thousand Oaks Mayor Elois Zeanah said. “That’s where our attention needs to go.”

She said she is most concerned about gang activity creeping into the Conejo Valley. A crime-prevention task force was formed earlier this year to study trends and look at how other communities are dealing with such violence, she said.

“I’m most appreciative that we remain low, but I’m also being realistic,” Zeanah said. “We are comparing ourselves with much older cities, so we can’t be lulled into thinking we’re safer than we are.”

Law enforcement officials in Simi Valley saw burglaries and thefts dip by about 25% and 15%, respectively, but watched the number of violent crimes rise.

“My gut hunch is that you’re talking about something that’s a minimal change in the statistical analysis,” Simi Valley Police Sgt. Gordon Weeks said. “I’m not sure that’s significant of any trend.”

In Oxnard, except for the crime of arson, every statistical category--including violent assaults such as rape and murder--dropped significantly, the FBI said.

“The chief’s emphasis on community-based policing is paying off,” Sgt. John Crombach said. “We’re bringing that philosophy through all the divisions in the department.”

Oxnard police said they are not surprised that the number of serious crimes has dropped.

“When you raise awareness and you involve community groups, crime goes down,” Crombach said. “Now you’ve got whole neighborhoods with their eyes peeled.”

Ventura County Crime

Serious crimes, as measured for the first six months of 1992 and 1993, in the three Ventura County cities with populations of more than 100,000:

OXNARD (149,600)

1992 1993 Homicide 7 3 Rape 43 29 Robbery 324 292 Aggravated assault 508 415 Burglary 1,077 811 Theft 2,581 2,370 Car theft 531 530 Arson 19 29 TOTAL 5,190 4,489 Major crimes per 1,000 residents 35.4 30

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SIMI VALLEY (103,000)

1992 1993 Homicide 2 0 Rape 6 10 Robbery 45 25 Aggravated assault 94 97 Burglary 403 301 Theft 989 833 Car theft 212 199 Arson 22 13 TOTAL 1,774 1,478 Major crimes per 1,000 residents 17.4 14.3

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THOUSAND OAKS (109,200)

1992 1993 Homicide 0 2 Rape 9 16 Robbery 39 32 Aggravated assault 111 132 Burglary 451 326 Theft 935 936 Car theft 177 192 Arson 17 15 TOTAL 1,739 1,711 Major crimes per 1,000 residents 16.3 15.7