SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Continuing a nearly two-decade trend, the City of Sunnyvale is reporting a 17 percent drop in crimes in 2010. A total of 2,444 crimes were reported in 2010, down from 2,959 in 2009, and significantly lower than the nearly 5,000 in 1993. With only small intermediate spikes, the City’s crime has continued to drop.

“Records show our City’s efforts to keep crime out of Sunnyvale are having a positive effect,” said Department of Public Safety (DPS) Chief Don Johnson. “Good policing by dedicated officers and detectives are the frontline. But crime prevention is also achieved through good public education programs, special activities for at-risk youth, and the support of an aware community. Sunnyvale works hard on all these aspects and we see the results.”

Sunnyvale’s most dramatic reductions came in the area of property crimes, commercial, residential and school burglaries, auto theft and auto burglaries, and other larcenies all dropped by a total of 18 percent. Auto burglary alone saw a 41 percent reduction.

Violent crimes – including homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault – collectively dropped by 1 percent. “Because crime is not simply a city-by-city problem, we need to tackle issues that cross city boundaries,” Johnson explained. “Our officers work with numerous task forces and regional teams, all with the intent of keeping Sunnyvale safe.

Sunnyvale routinely reports crimes to the CrimeReports.com website. This information is available to members of the public who want to stay aware of law enforcement activity in Sunnyvale. Community members who want to learn more about preventing crime at their home or business, can call the DPS Crime Prevention office at (408) 730-7140.