PRESS RELEASE: FBI Releases 2011 Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, San Diego, Oceanside, and Escondido Experience Decreases in Violent Crime Rates

FBI San Diego
June 13, 2012

Darrell Foxworth
(858) 499-7810

FBI Releases 2011 Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report
San Diego, Oceanside, and Escondido Experience Decreases in Violent Crime Rates

According to the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report released Monday, June 11, 2012, the nation experienced a 4.0 percent decrease in the number of violent crimes and a 0.8 percent decline in the number of property crimes in 2011 when compared to data from 2010. The report is based on information the FBI gathered from 14,009 law enforcement agencies that submitted six to 12 comparable months of data for both 2010 and 2011.

Violent Crime

In 2011, all four of the violent crime offense categories—murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault—declined nationwide when compared with data from 2010. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter declined 1.9 percent, while forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault each declined 4.0 percent.
Violent crime declined in all city groups. Cities with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 saw the largest decrease (5.2 percent) in violent crime. Violent crime decreased 6.6 percent in metropolitan counties and 4.7 percent in nonmetropolitan counties.
Within city groups, murder and non-negligent manslaughter offenses increased the most (18.3 percent) in cities with populations under 10,000. Cities with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 showed the largest decrease of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses (14.4 percent).
All city groupings experienced a decline in forcible rapes except in cities with 500,000 to 999,999 inhabitants, which had the increase in forcible rapes (0.5 percent). Forcible rape offenses declined 6.8 percent in metropolitan counties and 9.0 percent in non-metropolitan counties.
Robbery offenses decreased in all city groupings, with the greatest decrease (5.3 percent) in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants. Robberies decreased 7.5 percent in metropolitan counties and 3.6 percent in nonmetropolitan counties.
Aggravated assaults decreased in all city groups. Cities with 50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants experienced the largest decrease at 5.3 percent. Aggravated assaults declined in both county groups, with a decrease of 6.3 percent in metropolitan counties and 4.2 percent in nonmetropolitan counties.
Violent crime decreased in all four regions (4.9 percent in the Midwest, 4.7 percent in the West, 4.5 percent in the South, and 0.8 percent in the Northeast).
Property Crime

Nationally, the property crime offense categories of larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft decreased in 2011 when compared to 2010 data. Motor vehicle theft dropped 3.3 percent, and larceny-theft decreased 0.9 percent. However, burglary offenses increased 0.3 percent.
Property crime increased 0.3 percent in cities with 250,000 to 499,999 inhabitants and increased 0.1 percent in cities with 10,000 to 24,999 in population. Decreases in property crime were reported in all other city groupings. Property crime decreased 1.4 percent in metropolitan counties but increased 2.6 percent in nonmetropolitan counties.
Burglary offenses increased 1.2 percent in cities with 50,000 to 99,999 persons, which is the largest increase reported within city groupings. Burglaries increased 1.0 percent in non-metropolitan counties.
Larceny-theft offenses decreased in all city groupings except those with populations of 250,000 to 499,999, which had an increase of 0.2 percent, and those with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, which showed virtually no change. Larceny-thefts increased 4.1 percent in non-metropolitan counties.
Motor vehicle thefts declined in all population groupings. Cities with 100,000 to 249,999 inhabitants experienced the largest decline at 4.3 percent. Metropolitan counties reported a 6.1 percent decrease in motor vehicle thefts.
Three of the nation’s regions had decreases in property crime in 2011 when compared with data from 2010. These offenses declined 1.3 percent in the South, 0.8 percent in the West, and 0.4 percent in the Midwest. However, property crimes increased 0.2 percent in the Northeast.
Arson

Arson offenses, which are not included in property crime totals, decreased 5.0 percent nationwide. Arsons declined in all four regions in 2011, with the Northeast experiencing the largest decrease (12.3 percent).
San Diego—Population 1,316,919

The violent crime rate for San Diego dropped 9 percent, and the property crime rate dropped 3 percent. The drop in the violent crime rate was attributed to a decrease in aggravated assaults (down 334) and robberies (down 180). Murders increased 31 percent, from 29 in 2010 to 38 in 2011. The decrease in property crime was derived from a decrease in burglaries (down 547) and larceny thefts (down 367). The 2011 violent crime offenses totaled 5,104 compared to 5,616 for 2010.

Chula Vista—Population 246,783

The violent crime rate for Chula Vista increased 1 percent, and the property crime rate dropped 2 percent. The increase in the violent crime rate was attributed to an increase in aggravated assaults (44). This was offset by decreases in forcible rapes (down 20) and robberies (down 21). The decrease in the property crime rate was attributed to a decrease in motor vehicle thefts (down 225). Concurrent increases were seen in the number of burglaries (47) and larceny theft (61) categories. The 2011 violent crime offenses totaled 670 compared to 663 in 2010.

Oceanside—Population 169,050

The violent crime rate for Oceanside dropped 4.62 percent, and the property crime rate dropped 1.53 percent. The decrease in violent crime was attributed to a decrease in aggravated assaults (down 48). Concurrent increases were seen in the following categories; murders increased by three, forcible rapes by 11, and robberies by four. The decrease in property crime was attributed to a decrease in larceny thefts (down 95). The 2011 violent crime offenses totaled 620 compared to 650 in 2010.

Escondido—Population 145,603

The violent crime rate for Escondido dropped 17 percent, and the property crime rate dropped 20 percent. The decrease in the violent crime rate was attributed to decreases in aggravated assaults (down 58) and robberies (down 35). The decrease in property crime rate was consistent across the board with decreases in motor vehicle thefts (down 333), larceny thefts (down 304), and burglaries (down 186). The 2011 violent crime offenses totaled 495 compared to 597 in 2010.

Carlsbad—Population 106,566

The violent crime rate for Carlsbad increased 7.69 percent, and the property crime rate increased 8.24 percent. The increase in the violent crime rate was attributed to an increase in aggravated assaults (26) and murders (4). Forcible rapes decreased 45 percent (down 9). The increase in property crime was up across the board with increases in burglaries (69), larceny thefts (62), and motor vehicle thefts (19). The 2011 violent crime offenses totaled 210 compared to 195 in 2010.