Crime in America is not something that occurs in only some states; every state has its hotspots where criminal incidents are high. In California, according to the Department of Justice’s Crime Data report, violent crime decreased by 1.5% from 2017 to 2018. The homicide rate also decreased by 4.3%. Other notable decreases in crime include:
- Robberies were down 4.5%
- Motor vehicle theft decreased by 8.3%
- Larceny theft was down by 3.7%
Even the total arrest rate in California was reported to have decreased by 1.1% from 2017. Although the trend from 2017 to 2018 showed a decreased rate of crime, there is no question that some cities are far more dangerous than others.
What Were the Five Most Dangerous Cities in California in 2019?
- Eureka is not just an unsafe city for the state of California, but it tops the charts as one of the most unsafe in the nation. There are more than 1,700 crimes reported each year in the city. The majority are property crimes, but there is a significant portion made up of violent crimes. Approximately 244 reported crimes out of the total are violent.
- Commerce, located in Los Angeles County, has over 9,000 property crimes reported for every 100,000 people. Burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft have significantly higher rates in Commerce than compared to the rest of the country. While there has been a dip in violent crime in the city, murder, rape, and assault incidents are also higher when compared to the U.S. as a whole.
- Red Bluff comes with a crime rate that is 168% higher than all the crimes reported in the whole state of California. If you visit Red Bluff, you have a 1 in 17 chance of becoming a victim of a crime.
- Oakland is a big city — the eighth largest in California. Residents are at high risk for both property crime and violent crimes there. Living in Oakland, you have a 1 in 7.6 chance of being the victim of a violent crime. Crime in Oakland is almost 160% higher than the national average.
- Emeryville, located north of Oakland, has the most property crimes reported versus any other city in the state of California. The violent crime rate is seeing a decrease, but it is still much higher than in other cities in the state. Emeryville has been the most dangerous city in California for three consecutive years, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Do You Need a San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney?
After being arrested for a crime in California, connecting with the right attorney who knows the law and has a track record of helping people get their charges reduced or even eliminated is critically important. The Law Offices of David M. Boertje has the experience and the proven track record of success helping individuals arrested in California that you want on your side.
Call our San Diego criminal defense law firm anytime 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (619) 229-1870 for our San Diego office or (760) 476-0901 for our Carlsbad location. You can discuss your case either in-person or over the phone, and the Law Offices of David M. Boertje always has affordable financing options.