By Khalida Sarwari
Crime in Sunnyvale dropped by 17 percent last year, continuing a nearly two-decade trend, according to the city’s Department of Public Safety.
With the exception of small intermediate spikes, the city’s crime rate has continued to drop in the last few years, officials said. There were 2,444 crimes reported in 2010, compared to 2,959 in 2009 and 5,000 in 1993.
Department of Public Safety Chief Don Johnson credited the declining trend to good policing, but said crime prevention is achieved also through public education programs, activities for at-risk youth, and the support of an aware community.
“Sunnyvale works hard on all these aspects and we see the results,” Johnson said in a statement.
The most dramatic reductions were in property crimes, commercial, residential and school burglaries, auto theft and auto burglaries, and other larcenies, which all dropped by 18 percent, according to officials.
Auto burglary declined by 41 percent.
Violent crimes, including homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, all dropped by 1 percent, officials said.
Information about crimes and law enforcement activity in Sunnyvale can be found online at www.CrimeReports.com. Residents who want to learn about preventing crime at their home or business can call the Department of Public Safety’s crime prevention office at (408) 730-7140.