Lancaster Crime Rate Lowest in more than 15 Years
Crime Rate Down 34% since 2007 and below 300 per 10,000 residents
LANCASTER, CA – The City of Lancaster‟s overall Part I crime rate has declined
to less than 300 crimes per 10,000 residents, the first time the City‟s serious crime rate
has been below 300 since at least 1996. Further, the 298.6 crime rate for 2010
represents a dramatic reduction of nearly 34% in just three years, from a crime rate of
449.4 in 2007. Vigilant and targeted enforcement efforts by the Los Angeles County
Sheriff‟s Department (LASD), a significant and sustained resource commitment by the
Lancaster City Council, focused public safety initiatives by the Lancaster Criminal
Justice Commission, substantial code enforcement and neighborhood improvement
efforts, and a community-wide aggressive stance towards gangs and crime have made
Lancaster a demonstrably safer City.
“In 2007, our City was overrun by gangs and crime and many hard-working
families and long-time residents were leaving Lancaster. Today, we are a much safer,
happier, and more engaged City. Together, we have built a better, safer Lancaster for
our children and grandchildren,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “There is no
mistaking the fact that we have gained the upper hand in reducing crime. Primary credit
and thanks go to the tireless efforts of our more than 400 Neighborhood Watch and
Business Watch groups, as well as our strong partnership with the Los Angeles County
Sheriff‟s Department and our great friend, Sheriff Lee Baca.”
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Mayor R. Rex Parris 
Last August I took photos of crime in my neighborhood to the Sheriff, but was told that since they didn’t see it happen they could not do anything about it. The Deputy went on to say that even if they had seen it, they wouldn’t be bothered because they have more important crimes.
Last month, 5 of my neighbors, all acting independently, called the police the same night about recurring criminal activity next door to me. Because they have spotters at that house, each time the Sheriff arrived, they didn’t see anything and just drove by without stopping or getting out of their vehicle to investigate. On the 5th drive-by I flagged the Sheriff, but they told me to complain to Code Enforcement.
I complained to Code Enforcement, but they said that with only a few exceptions, my complaints should be handled by the Sheriff. The Code Enforcement officer drove by twice but did not get out of his vehicle to investigate.
I don’t think crime is down, I think everyone is so worried about “statistics” that they do whatever they can to avoid seeing it. If they don’t see it, it didn’t happen. Of course, if you spend all of your time on the Avenues instead of the Streets, you won’t ever see it.