The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station is tops in the county for reducing overall violent crimes so far this year.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the SCV’s 35.2-percent drop in violent crime mirrors overall declines in the sheriff’s coverage area for the first nine months year to date 2011 compared to 2010.

Other sheriff’s stations experiencing significant decreases in violent crimes include the Avalon Station at 30.4 percent, Malibu-Lost Hills Station at 29.7 percent, Lakewood Station at 24.8 percent, Carson Station at 24.0 percent, Norwalk Station at 21.8 percent, and Crescenta Valley Station at 21.6 percent.

Violent crimes include homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

On paper, the SCV’s homicide rate skyrocketed 171.4 percent, because five homicides were reported through August 2011 versus two through August 2010.

The SCV is known for having more property crimes – burglary, theft, grand theft auto and arson – than violent crimes, but even there, the SCV has shown improvement in 2011. Serious crimes fell 11.7 percent in the SCV year-over-year, for a combined Part 1 (violent and serious) crime rate drop of 14.7 percent.

As of the end of September 2011, preliminary reported crime data shows that reported overall incidents of violent crimes throughout the county have declined 12.61 percent, and serious property crimes reported (Part I) have declined by 3.5 percent in Sheriff’s patrol areas countywide, compared to last year at this time. These numbers combine to show a 5.37 percent decrease in overall Part I crimes.

As of the end of August 2011, preliminary reported crime data shows that criminal homicides decreased by 2.2 percent in Sheriff’s patrol areas (to 127 through Aug. 31, 2011, from 131 through August 2010), and have decreased by 43.59 percent compared to five years ago (2006).

This follows a five-year overall decrease in homicides in 2010. Last year saw the lowest homicide rate (allowing for population changes) in Sheriff’s Department patrol areas since 1965.

Most notable, were decreases in homicides in the Carson Station, East Los Angeles and Lancaster Station areas. Carson Station homicides were reduced from 3 homicides this year compared to 6 last year. East Los Angeles Station has had 9 homicides this year, down from 13 homicides last year. Lancaster Station has had 6 homicides this year compared to 8 last year.