By Linda Taaffe

It’s no coincidence that barking dogs and after-hours leaf blowers are some of the most serious crimes in Los Altos, considering the police department’s quick response time - less than 4 minutes. This, combined with the community’s watchful eyes, has made Los Altos the safest city in Santa Clara County, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s annual Uniform Crime Report.

Julie Rose, president of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, honored the department’s efforts April 7 with a $1,000 donation toward computer equipment from Councilman Ron Packard.

Los Altos reported the lowest crime rate in Santa Clara County and ranked better than the national average in every category reported, according to the FBI. The report, published in the Town Crier last December at the time of its release, compiled national crime statistics for specific categories from more than 17,000 police agencies throughout the country. Numbers are calculated per 100,000 people for equivalent comparisons. Only Category I crimes - rape, assault, murder and robbery - are included in the report.

With just under 29,000 residents, Los Altos was the only city in Santa Clara County to report fewer than 1,000 crimes per 100,000 people during 2002. Police reported 930 crimes per 100,000 people.