Crime in five West San Fernando Valley neighborhoods has increased significantly according to crime alerts on the Times Crime L.A. database.

According to reports from the area, there were several recent rapes and aggravated assaults in Northridge and Canoga Park.

In Porter Ranch and Winnetka, an upsurge in thefts from vehicles and auto thefts triggered an alert for property crime.

West Hills had a cluster of robberies and assaults that were unusual for the area.

The crimes took place in the week ending Sept. 25 which is the most recent date for which complete crime statistics from the Los Angeles Police Department are available.

Crime L.A. analysis triggers an alert if crime reports from the LAPD for a particular neighborhood rise a significant amount above what is normal for that area.

In areas that are normally low in crime, a relatively small number of incidents can trigger an alert if the number is significantly different from the neighborhood's norm.

Elsewhere in the city, increases in property crimes triggered alerts in the West L.A. and Sawtelle neighborhoods of the Westside, while increases in violent crime triggered alerts in Cypress Park and Boyle Heights on the Eastside and in Harbor City.