Some Violent Crimes Increase in Los Gatos, Monte Sereno

Los Gatos and Monte Sereno are seeing some progress in the battle against crimes such as identity theft, narcotics violations and aggravated assault. However, some violent incidents increased in 2010. 

Although there were no homicides in 2009-10, domestic violence incidents jumped from 45 cases in 2009 to 56 in 2010, according to data released this week by the . 

And there were seven more rapes than the prior year, increasing from one rape in 2009 to eight in 2010, the data showed. In 2007, however, the agency reported seven rapes. Aggravated assault incidents decreased by two.

Ten robberies were also reported for both years, but there were seven fewer residential burglaries. Commercial burglaries increased by 13, from 39 to 52, and bank robberies from one to three.

On the positive side, there were 25 fewer stolen vehicles in 2010, a decrease from 55 reported in 2009 to 30 in 2010. However, there were 30 stolen vehicle attempts in 2010 compared with just one in 2009. Arsons also jumped to 10 last year, compared with four in 2009, and grand theft incidents went up by 12, from 87 in 2009 to 99 in 2010. Petty theft dropped by 16, from 131 to 115.

Under narcotics violations, the decrease was across the board—marijuana (under one ounce) dropped from 40 in 2008 to 32 in 2009 to 17 in 2010, and possession/sales/manufacturing went down from 101 in 2008 to 93 in 2009 to 72 in 2010.

Public intoxication incidents have also decreased in the past three years, which is a credit to the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department's efforts to get people home safely without arresting them, said

The number of public drunkenness incidents dropped from 94 in 2009 to 79 in 2010. “The bars and nightlife in Los Gatos are doing well,” said Harris. “We are a magnet for the Bay Area, and so it’s a challenge for us to make it a safe environment while not using all of our police resources arresting people. We make every effort to get them home safely, which means officers have to make judgment calls.” 

In the area of sex offenses, crimes against adult victims rose by two but decreased by four for young victims.

Offenses against people, family and children decreased in most areas, the exception being a rise in child abuse, from six incidents reported in 2009 to 17 in 2010, and harassment increased from 21 to 29 cases. Elder abuse and child neglect incidents dropped by one.

Several areas remained the same for 2009 and 2010, including kidnapping attempts, false imprisonment, hostage, resisting arrest and violation of parole/probation.

Other non-violent crimes also decreased. DUIs went from 76 to 66, DUI with accidents from 29 to 23, liquor law violations from 14 to 3, curfew violations from 23 to 7 and truancy from 14 to 7. 

"The department is excellent in the way that it provides its services to the community," said Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police Chief Scott Seaman. "We're very proud of the work that we do." 

The chief explained that the department provides police services to 33,000 residents in both communities and that compared with similar-sized cities, Los Gatos is relatively safe and crime is, for the most part, low. The department has solved some complicated cases in recent years, which demonstrates its willingness to commit resources, time and efforts to fight crime, he said.

"Our residents, I think, find that we both pay attention to levels of crime that other departments may not, and we also have a very significant record in solving those cases," Seaman said. "Los Gatos is no different than any other city. We have all manner of crime ... but our officers, by being proactive ... have many times uncovered things that do, in fact, lead to solve crimes and prevent future crimes in our communities."

Property crimes rose in some areas and dropped in others. Trespassing incidents increased from eight in 2009 to 11 in 2010. Mail tampering went up from eight to 18. Crimes of vehicle tampering, animal violations and prowling each dropped by two.

Los Gatos- Monte Sereno Crimes

2010

2009

2008

+/- from 2009 to 2010

Homicide

0

0

0

none

Rape of person

8

1

7

+7

Rape attempt

0

0

0

none

Robbery of person

10

10

9

same

Robbery of person—attempt

0

0

0

none

Bank robbery

3

1

0

none

Bank robbery—attempt

0

0

0

none

Aggravated Assaults

11

13

16

-2

Assault-domestic violence

56

45

47

+11

Simple assault

51

50

61

+1

Assault on peace officer

2

2

1

same

Residential burglary

68

75

83

-7

Residential attempted burglary

6

4

4

+2

Commercial burglary

52

39

55

+13

Commercial attempted burglary

2

3

2

-1

Grand theft

99

87

140

+12

Petty theft

115

131

189

-16

Vehicle grand theft

38

39

27

-1

Vehicle petty theft

49

45

43

+4

Vehicle burglary

151

171

134

-20

Vehicle burglary attempt

1

3

0

+2

Stolen Vehicles

30

55

50

-25

Stolen vehicles attempt

30

1

1

+29

Arson

10

4

15

+6

Non-Violent Crimes

Forgery & Counterfeiting

4

17

25

-13

Fraud

47

42

68

+5

Embezzlement

4

3

5

+1

ID Theft

45

75

281

-30

Vandalism

132

121

157

+11

Weapons

9

14

18

-5

Sex Offenses

Adult victim

5

3

5

+2

Juvenile victim

10

14

8

-4

Other sex offenses

7

1

4

+6

Narcotics violations

Marijuana under 1 ounce

17

32

40

-15

Narcotics—possession/sales/manufacture

72

93

101

-21

Narcotics—under the influence

10

15

11

-5

Gambling

0

0

0

same

Offenses Against People, Family & Children

Child abuse

17

6

7

+11

Child neglect

4

5

5

+1

Kidnap

1

0

0

+1

Kidnap attempt

0

0

0

same

Elder abuse

3

4

3

-1

False imprisonment

0

0

2

same

Harassment

29

21

31

+8

Hostage

0

0

0

same

Court violations

23

26

29

-6

Resist arrest

8

8

7

same

Violation of parole/probation

5

5

7

same

DUI

66

76

67

-10

DUI with accident

23

29

29

-6

Liquor laws

3

14

3

-11

Drunk in public

79

94

103

-15

Curfew

Truant

7

14

9

-7

Litter

0

0

0

same

Loiter

0

0

0

same

Trespass

11

8

10

+3

Vehicle tampering

1

3

5

-2

Vandalism

132

121

157

+11

Animal

9

11

22

-2

Mail Tampering

18

6

13

+12

Prowling

3

5

2

-2