Residential burglaries rise in 4S Ranch

Property crime rose in 4S Ranch in 2015, according to statistics recently posted on ARJIS, the Automated Regional Justice Information System.

The unincorporated community is served by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

While it appears violent crimes significantly declined last year, due to a FBI mandated change in the definition of rape for the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, officials said there can be no comparison of crime statistics for 2015 to previous years in the categories of rape, aggravated assaults, violent crime total and crime index total (violent and property crimes combined), since all four of these categories have been impacted.

According to the ARJIS website, “The new definition of rape has been broadened to include male victims, sodomy, penetration with any body part or objects, and no longer requires force.” The new definition — posted under the “help” tab at crimestats.arjis.org — went into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.

Under the new reporting guidelines, there was one rape, one robbery and three aggravated assaults, for a total of five violent crimes in 4S Ranch throughout 2015. Under the old reporting guidelines, there had been one rape, three robberies and eight aggravated assaults for a total of 12 violent crimes in 2014.

A direct comparison of property crimes can be made between 2015 and 2014. In all, there were 136 property crimes last year, an increase of 27 over the 2014 total of 109. In 2015 there were 30 residential burglaries, while the year before there were 20. Commercial burglaries declined slightly, going from 14 in 2014 to 11 last year. Incidents of theft also rose by 12 cases, going from 68 in 2014 to 80 last year. Auto thefts more than doubled, with 15 reported in 2015 compared to seven in 2014.

Under the new reporting guidelines, there was a total of 141 crimes reported in 2015. Under the old reporting guidelines, there were 121 crimes during 2014.

Unlike its neighboring communities, like Rancho Bernardo, that are part of the City of San Diego, at this time crime rates per 1,000 residents are not available for 4S Ranch. In addition, the sheriff’s department does not have car prowls — where property might not have been taken — listed as an independent category the way San Diego Police Department does when reporting monthly crime statistics.