Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station reported the third-quarter crime numbers for 2025, indicating that property crimes are down just over 19%, but violent crimes are up 8.78%, based on Sheriff’s Department data. Overall, the number of Part-I crimes remains down almost 14%, with the biggest drop specifically in larceny thefts, or the unlawful taking of property, often from a business, but not necessarily. The FBI, which determines national crime rates, defines it as shoplifting, pocket-picking or the stealing of any property or article that is not taken by force and violence or by fraud. The biggest increase seen locally remains in sexual assaults, which is also reflected in the countywide numbers. SCV Sheriff’s Station Capt. Brandon Barclay declined a request for an interview Monday, but issued a written statement: “I am pleased to report a significant reduction in Part-I crimes within our jurisdiction, he said, noting the double-digit decrease in percentage points, with incidents falling from 2,859 to 2,461. “This remarkable achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of our deputies across all shifts, who work diligently, rain or shine, to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.” Violent crime The largest area of crime increase in 2025 continues to be sexual assault, which increased in the station’s reporting areas for the city and unincorporated L.A. County. The SCV Sheriff’s Station received 35 reports of sexual assault in all of 2024, based on the department’s historical data. There already have been 56 reported in 2025, which represents a more than 150% increase. The number of murders has ticked up after a Halloween night shooting at a party left two people dead in Newhall. There have been no arrests in that investigation as of this story’s publication. The SCV had two homicides reported prior to October — a Newhall college student was murdered in her apartment and an 80-year-old woman whose 81-year-old husband was arrested on suspicion of murder. There were three in all of 2024. The number of robberies stayed the same in a year-to-year comparison for the station, with 83 incidents reported for both periods. Aggravated assaults dipped down slightly by less than 3%, with 211 in the first nine months last year and 206 in 2025. In terms of total violent crime, there were 319 reported from January to September in 2024, and 347 over the same time this year. Property crimes The numbers improved for every category under property crimes, according to the LASD data released each month on the LASD’s Transparency Promise website. There have been fewer store thefts, home burglaries and even stolen vehicles reported to the SCV Sheriff’s Station in 2025, per the crime reports. Burglaries are down nearly 23% — with 461 reported in the first three quarters of 2024 and 356 reported in 2025. There were 231 fewer reports of larceny in the city, and 51 fewer in the unincorporated county areas in a year-to-year comparison of 2024 and to-date 2025 data. The double-digit decreases in both areas are slightly above what Los Angeles is seeing countywide, with a 9.67% decrease reported for the department. Countywide, grand theft auto reports are down 5%. In the SCV, Sheriff’s Station deputies have seen almost an 8.5% decrease.
