Starting with the reporting of the 2024 Crime Statistics (https://s45643.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NIBRS-
Comparison-Q4-Official-02132025.pdf), the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) has transitioned to the National Incident
Based Reporting System (NIBRS). This transition aligns with a federal mandate and reflects our commitment to providing
transparent and comprehensive crime data to the community and the California and Federal Departments of Justice.

Historically, the VCSO Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) prepared a comparison of the previous three years of Uniform Crime
Reporting (UCR) statistics submitted. However, in 2024, VCSO received NIBRS certification, marking a significant change in
how crime data is collected and reported.

Previously, under UCR, the crimes reported included: Homicide, Rape/Criminal Sexual Assault, Robbery, Aggravated Assault,
Burglary, Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Arson. Under UCR, VCSO jurisdiction reported on average (between 2021-2023) 3,700
crimes annually.

NIBRS requires data to be reported on over 50 offenses. Under the NIBRS requirements, VCSO jurisdiction reported 12,175
crimes for 2024. While this reporting method does provide a clearer picture of crime within our communities that we serve,
it makes it very difficult to compare previous years crime statistics to 2024 crime statistics.

NIBRS captures data in three crime categories: Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Property, and Crimes Against Society.

VCSO reported 2,388 Crimes Against Persons in 2024. Around 92% (2,192 victims) fell within the Assault category with many of
those offenses in the Simple Assault category (1,669 victims).

VCSO reported 11 victims of Homicide during 2024. There are no outstanding suspects in any of the Homicides and four of the
incidents involved mental health. Seven of the incidents involved known offenders to the victims, and three victims were
associated with vehicle related manslaughters.

Historically, under UCR, VCSO did not report vehicular manslaughter offenses. There were no gang related Homicides for 2024.

The NIBRS categories for Sex Offenses includes Rape, Sodomy, Sexual Assault with Object, and Fondling. For 2024, most of the
victims fell within the Fondling (50 or 43%) or Rape (40 or 35%) category.

The all-other reported crimes for the Crimes Against Persons category include Kidnapping/Abduction, Statutory Rape, and
Human Trafficking.

The Crimes Against Property category includes Robbery, Burglary, Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft, Arson, Destruction of Property,
Forgery, Embezzlement, Extortion, Fraud, Bribery, and Stolen Property. Of all the crimes reported to the DOJ under NIBRS,
this is the largest category for VCSO jurisdiction (totaling 6,098 crimes or 50% of VCSO’s reported crime). Historically,
under UCR, property crimes would also be the bulk of our reported crimes. Larceny accounted for 2,467 (40%) of the reported
crimes against property. Most of the thefts were shoplifting incidents (38% or 949 crimes), followed by all other larcenies
(28% or 688 crimes), and theft from motor vehicles (20% or 492 crimes). In previous years, thefts of catalytic converters
have been significant; however, in 2024, theft from motor vehicles that involved parts or accessories only accounted for 78
crimes (3%) and only 42 of those were catalytic converters. Burglary reports totaled 416 with 171 (41%) residential and 113
(27%) commercial. There are additional burglaries that fell within the school or other categories as well. Motor vehicle
theft accounted for 249 crimes (4%) and all other reported crimes for the Crimes Against Property totaled 2,888. Most of
these crimes fell into the Destruction of Property (1,180) or Fraud (1,259) categories.

The Crimes Against Society category includes Drug/Narcotic Violations, Drug Equipment Violations, Gambling, Pornography
Offenses, Prostitution, Weapons Violations, and Animal Cruelty. This category reported 3,689 (30%) of the total crimes that
VCSO reported to the Departments of Justice. Most of this category are Drug/Narcotic Violations (2,304 or 62%) and Drug
Equipment Violations (975 or 26%).

It should be noted that each geographical area in Ventura County is unique, and crime trends vary from city to city. The
2024 NIBRS Crime Dashboard further breaks down crime reporting per jurisdiction. For questions regarding each city’s
reported crimes, the following people can be contacted:

City of Fillmore Chief of Police– Captain Eduardo Malagon (805 477-7108)

City of Camarillo Chief of Police – Commander Eric Tennessen (805 797-7102)

City of Thousand Oaks Chief of Police– Commander Jeremy Paris (805 797-7105)

City of Moorpark Chief of Police– Captain Darin Hendren (805 797-7137)

City of Ojai Chief of Police – Captain Trina Newman (805 477-7039)

Prepared by:

Senerey De Los Santos

News Release Date:

March 7, 2025