Crime Decreased 5% in Thousand Oaks in ’93 : Statistics: FBI figures come as good news to city officials, who warn that the threat of violence remains.

Despite a slight increase in homicides, overall crime in Thousand Oaks fell by 5% in 1993, new statistics released Tuesday show.

A total of 3,276 offenses ranging from arson to larceny to murder occurred within the city limits last year, according to FBI figures released by state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren. During the previous year, 3,447 crimes were recorded.

The figures were heralded as good news by city officials, who nevertheless said they have a long way to go in reducing the threat of violent crime.

“Yes, we are pleased,” City Councilwoman Judy Lazar said. “But yes, we would like to see even better statistics. I don’t think anyone who lives here would say it’s as safe as it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago.”

Said Mayor Elois Zeanah: “We all want to see a drop in our total crime, and I’m pleased that there is a 5% drop. However, we have got to make sure we stem our wave of violent crime and make sure it is not a trend.”

Ventura County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Kathy Kemp, who oversees the department’s policing of Thousand Oaks, said that while the overall drop was encouraging, more needs to be done to curb violent crime.

“That is our challenge,” Kemp said. “We are having some successes in reducing property crimes, but violent crimes are a continuing concern.”

Kemp said the city has a special problem because of its proximity to the Ventura Freeway and easy access by youths driving in from Los Angeles.

The attorney general’s statistics showed, however, that violent crime--including homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault--dropped an overall 15.6% last year contrasted with 1992.

The total number of violent crimes reached 341 last year, contrasted with 404 the previous year. Robberies were down 17.7%, and aggravated assaults dropped 18.2%, according to the attorney general’s office.

The number of murders increased from one in 1992 to three last year.

Although that figure is still small by comparison with other major California cities, the homicides “were all shocking for us,” Lazar said. “When you don’t have very many, they all stand out.”

Zeanah said the city is taking steps to address crime and is holding a series of town hall meetings that she described as “brainstorming sessions” on the topic.

On May 7, city leaders will hold a symposium to air ideas and come up with solutions for how to reduce crime.

Chief among their concerns, Zeanah said, are encouraging youngsters to steer away from gangs, educating parents about instructing children on right from wrong, and offering job training and career opportunities to idle youths.

“We’ve got to find ways to enforce our family values and protect our community,” Zeanah said. “Parents must take more responsibility in conflict resolution and teaching children how to handle their anger.

“Teen violence is a real concern in our city right now,” she said, adding that she has seen increases in graffiti-tagging and vandalism. “While our city compares well with other cities, it’s still more than what we are willing to put up with.”

The Thousand Oaks figures were the first released for any of the five cities patrolled by the Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff is expected to release Moorpark’s figures today and those for Camarillo, Fillmore and Ojai within the next week.

The five Ventura County cities with their own police departments--Ventura, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Port Hueneme and Santa Paula--issued annual reports on 1993 crime in January. Reported crime was down in each.

Times staff writer Daryl Kelley contributed to this story.

Crime in Thousand Oaks

‘92 ’93 Homicide 1 3 Rape 17 22 Robbery 79 65 Aggravated assault 307 251 Burglary 786 649 Theft 1,865 1,892 Auto theft 352 344 Arson 40 50 Totals 3,447 3,276

Source: State Department of Justice