This marks the third consecutive year that Palmdale’s crime rate has been below the 300 crimes per 10,000, a number that puts Palmdale in a category of having a reputation as a safe city. In 2007, the City of Palmdale set a five-year goal of bringing the crime rate below 300 by 2012. That goal was reached two years ahead of schedule.

“We’re seeing a crime rate that hasn’t been this low in decades,” said Palmdale’s Director of Public Safety and Community Relations Anne Ambrose. “It’s certainly a great way to celebrate our 50th year as an incorporated City.”

Crime was down in virtually every category. For the year, there was a 17.14 percent reduction in arson, a 24.95 percent reduction in grand theft auto, a 7.32 percent reduction in rapes, and a 4.98 percent reduction in robberies and a 2.30 percent reduction in assaults. Burglaries showed only a slight (.73 percent) increase over the previous year.

Homicides increased from 8 in 2010 to 9 in 2011. There was .85 percent increase in larceny/thefts.

“I’m very pleased with our continued downturn in crime. Our strategies of combining community involvement, high tech crime analysis and old-fashioned detective work is paying great dividends,” said Palmdale Sheriff’s Acting Captain Don Ford. “The continuing low crime rate represents a lot of hard work by Sheriff’s deputies, city staff and the residents of Palmdale. I am very proud of what our community has accomplished in very difficult times by pulling together to make Palmdale a great place to live and work.”

“This is a story that never gets old,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “The residents of Palmdale are benefiting from our long standing practice of community policing. With a strong partnership between our dedicated Sheriff’s Department, a professional City staff, and community engagement through programs such as Neighborhood and Business Watch, we continue to see a downward trend in crime in Palmdale.”

“Unfortunately, recent actions by the State to release prisoners on an early parole program are putting all California cities in jeopardy of seeing an increase in crime,” Ledford said. “We as a community are going to have to increase our involvement, participation and efforts in programs such as Neighborhood and Business Watch to help offset this. For example, I personally would love to see our Neighborhood Watch groups continue to grow in numbers.”

“In light of the State’s action, I’m encouraging all our Palmdale businesses to take advantage of our upcoming free Business Watch orientation, which will be held on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 8 a.m. in the Palmdale City Council Chamber, located at 38300 Sierra Highway,” added Ledford. “Our public safety staff and representatives from the Sheriff’s Department will cover an overview of the Business Watch program, burglary and robbery prevention, current theft and fraud trends, how to address incidents of vandalism and loitering as well as how to identify counterfeit currency, credit cards and travelers checks.