The Imperial Beach Sheriff's Station saw a "dramatic" decrease in burglaries, assaults, robberies, and auto thefts during 2010. In an annual report released by the Sheriff's Department, robberies were down 50 percent, aggravated assaults by 28 percent, and auto thefts by 13 percent.

"These numbers are consistent with a positive trend toward a safer environment within the City of Imperial Beach," reads the report that will be presented to the Imperial Beach City Council at a July 6 meeting.

But while some crimes have decreased, drug and alcohol-offenses are on their way up.

According to the report, drug-related offenses were higher than before during 2010. Charges for possession, selling, and possession of drug paraphernalia shot up by 29 percent from 2009 to 2010. Two years ago, 452 drug-related arrests were made in IB. One year later that number was 583.

Drinking and driving arrests have also increased since 2009. Sheriff deputies in Imperial Beach arrested 40 more people for drunk driving in 2010.

The uptick in drug and alcohol offenses were also reported in the surrounding areas of Otay Mesa, unincorporated parts of Chula Vista, and Bonita.

In the report, the Sheriff's Department had an optimistic way of looking at the increase in narcotics-related crimes.

"Crime data indicate that the increases in arrests for DUI and narcotics-related crimes...are not the result of increased crime in the area but are probably the result of increased law enforcement activities."