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2010 Ventura County Crime Statistics: Some Up, Some Down

The latest criminal statistics for the Ventura County Sheriff's Department jurisdiction were released this week, showing both rises and falls in certain crimes in the area.

Ventura County encompasses five California cities: Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai and Fillmore. Property crime rose by 4 percent last year (2010) in the county, while violent crimes dropped by 9 percent.

There were a total of 5,211 property crimes last year, 219 more than in 2009. Petty thefts, which are the most common type of property crime, increased by 259 over 2009, with a total of 2,592. Grand thefts increased by only 9, to 1,306.

Four hundred ninety violent crimes occurred in Ventura county in 2010, 49 less than the year before. These crimes, which can be prosecuted as either misdemeanors or felonies, include charges such as homicide, rape, aggravated assault, arson and many more.

Many of the county's petty thefts, which accounted in a large part for the increases in property crimes, come from car thefts. Police believe many of these are coordinated and organized efforts, where criminals move down a street looking for easy lifts of electronics and valuables.

The Sheriff's Department has given repeated warnings to citizens to not leave their car unlocked or electronics in plain view, but more vigilence is obviously required. "It's a crime of opportunity," said sheriff's spokesman Mike Aranda about car theft, adding that people "just can't leave their guard down."

If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law in Ventura County, charged with a misdemeanor crime such as petty theft or a felony crime such as homicide or rape, you have to put your guard up just the same.

If you are charged with a crime in Ventura or are even a person of interest in an investigation, you need to take immediate action to fight to reduce or dismiss the charges against you. The prosecutors probably already have a head start, and you need to keep up to protect yourself.

Your first step should be to call a Ventura criminal defense attorney. An experienced attorney can help protect your legal rights, giving you the best possible chance at reducing your punishment and exposure as well as cleaning your criminal record and getting back to your life. Call us today for more information: (805) 643-5555.

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