from typing import List


def find_increases(value_list: List[int]) -> int:
    """
    Count the number of times an item in
    the list has a greater value than the
    item it follows.
    """
    last = None
    count = 0
    for line in value_list:

        if not last:
            last = line
            continue

        if line > last:
            count += 1
        last = line

    return count