Rates for Most Offenses Stay Level : Antelope Valley: Figures for third quarter show 1% drop in the region, though homicides rose 33% from 18 to 24.

Crime statistics have remained almost level in the Antelope Valley this year compared to 1993, according to third-quarter statistics released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The percent of change did rise or drop dramatically for some crimes, but only those where the raw numbers were small. For example, homicides in the Antelope Valley were up 33% from last year, but that represents an increase from 18 to 24. And arsons were down 17%, from 167 to 139.

“The third-quarter crime stats for 1994 reflect very little change from last year’s overall rate,” sheriff’s deputies said in a prepared statement on the report, which covers Lancaster, Palmdale and unincorporated areas of the valley. “The greater Antelope Valley area had a 1% decrease, with the unincorporated area and Lancaster remaining about the same (as last year). Palmdale experienced a 3% decrease.”

Because the Antelope Valley’s population increased about 8% over the past year, deputies also looked at the number of crimes committed per 10,000 residents. Using this measurement, there was again little change: 341 crimes per 10,000 residents this year, compared to 374 last year.

The combined total for eight major crime categories in the Antelope Valley was 10,209 compared to 10,096 last year.

Some of the numbers in specific categories registered enough of a increase to cause concerns. Automobile thefts were up from 550 to 651 in Palmdale compared to last year. The largest number of auto thefts so far this year--741--occurred in Lancaster.

Burglaries were up from 935 to 1,065 in Lancaster, but remained nearly at the same level in Palmdale and the unincorporated areas.

Crime Watch

The overall number of serious crimes in the Antelope Valley has changed little, decreasing by 1%, compared to last year. A few crime categories are shown below, as of September.

Palmdale:

Auto theft Burglary Robbery Total 1993 550 795 182 3,822 1994 651 742 175 3,726 % change +18% -7% -4% -3%

Lancaster:

Auto theft Burglary Robbery Total 1993 668 935 195 4,546 1994 741 1,065 201 4,538 % change +11% +14% +3% 0

Source: L.A. County Sheriff’s Dept.