Ventura- The Ventura Police Department has released the Part 1 Per Capita Crime Index for the calendar year of 2014. With an estimated population of 108,961 people, the VPD crime rates reflect a 3.6% decrease in Part 1 per capita crime when compared to 2013. This equates to 38.1 crimes per one thousand residents. While total property crimes decreased by 4.2% in Ventura, reported violent crimes increased by 5% in 2014.
The VPD crime index reflects an 11% reduction in residential and commercial burglaries which translates to 663 burglaries in 2014, down from 745 burglaries in 2013. Reported vehicle thefts also dropped by approximately 18% with a total of 210 reported incidents in 2014.
While larceny/theft numbers are down by 1% from 2013, shoplifting incidents accounted for 883 of the 2,994 reported thefts in 2014. This reflects a 23% increase from 2013. Meanwhile, reported incidents of arson decreased significantly in 2014 with only 10 reported incidents, down from 20 in 2013.
Although the VPD is reporting an increase in violent crime, homicides are actually down by 83%, with just 1 reported homicide in 2014 compared to 6 in 2013. However, reported rapes increased by 33% with a total of 28 reported incidents in 2014, up from 21 reports in 2013. Aggravated assaults also increased by approximately 5% with 143 reported incidents in 2014. There were also a total of 103 reported robberies in Ventura last year, up 4% from the 99 reported robberies in 2013.
The VPD is also reporting an 11% increase in the number of calls for service in 2014, with a total of approximately 92,000 calls last year. This is the highest number in over a decade. Subsequently, the VPD is reporting an 18% increase in arrests with a grand total of 5,240 arrests for the calendar year of 2014 in the city of Ventura. The Part 1 per capita crime rate in Ventura continues to be the highest in the county.
Photo: Ivsar Afanador
