SANDAG
  
banner

This Month

SANDAG newsletter
provides information
on key projects & services
rule
TransNet: The first 20 years (1988 - 2008)
rule
Crime down in San Diego, but robbery continues to increase rule
Western Salt Works site assessment and vision plan
rule
Input requested on proposed Fare Ordinance amendments rule
$400 million approved for regional goods movement improvements
rule
Celebrate Bike to Work Day
on May 16 rule
Dive into a vanpool
rule
April Board Actions
available online
rule


   the rEgion
 

Crime down in San Diego, SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division
but robbery continues to increase

The 2007 Annual Crime Bulletin for the San Diego region recently was released by SANDAG. As noted in this report, the San Diego region’s overall FBI Index Crime Rate was 33.40 per 1,000 population in 2007. The violent crime rate of 4.41 (which includes homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) was the lowest in the past 25 years. The property crime rate of 28.99 (which includes burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft) was the second lowest. While the lower violent crime rate reflects positively on the region’s efforts to address crime, the rise in the number of reported robberies is still a concern for law enforcement. The 4,387 robberies reported in 2007 reflect a 30 percent increase over the past five years. In addition, the San Diego region has experienced a larger increase in the number of robberies than either the state or the nation. Specifically, when compared to available five-year data (2002 to 2006), robberies in California and the nation had increased less than ten percent (see Figure 1 below).

Annual Crime Report

Despite this increase, robbery characteristics have remained constant, with nearly all occurring either outside in public (e.g., streets, alleys) or at commercial locations (e.g., banks, convenient stores), and fewer than one in ten taking place in residential settings. In addition, the proportion of armed robberies (i.e., committed with a firearm, knife, or other dangerous weapon) has also remained fairly stable, with about two in five classified as armed. Of these, just more than one-half involved firearms.

This increase has the attention of law enforcement and robbery has been identified by the local Chiefs and the Sheriff as a priority in the region for 2008. Planned reduction efforts include public information campaigns, crime prevention efforts, and targeted enforcements.

Additional Links

Project Manager

Dr. Cynthia Burke, Division Director, SANDAG Criminal Justice Research
cbu@sandag.org, (619) 699-1910