Hola, amigos! So, you've probably seen headlines about crime rates in California going up. Let's break it down together and see what's really happening in the land of sunshine and selfies! ☀️📸
A Tiny Bump Up 📊
A new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California tells us that violent crime went up by just 1.7% last year. To put it in perspective, that's like going from 495 to 503 incidents per 100,000 people. Not exactly a crime wave, but still something to keep an eye on. 👀
Flashback to Pre-Pandemic Times 🕰
Since COVID crashed the party in 2020, things have been a bit wild everywhere. Compared to 2019, violent crime in California is up 15.4%. Kinda like when you add extra hot sauce to your tacos—more intense than you expected! 🌮🔥
The Homicide Hike 🚨
Between 2019 and 2021, homicides jumped a massive 42.5%! That's a number that deserves a double-take. But here's the good news: since 2021, homicides are down 18.9%. Still, they're 15.5% higher than in 2019. So, progress, but not quite back to where we started. 🤔
Assaults and Firearms 🔫
Aggravated assaults have climbed 27.4% since 2019. And assaults involving guns shot up (pun intended) by 65.7% between 2019 and 2021. They've dipped a bit since then but are still way above 2019 levels.
Robberies with firearms are 11.5% higher than in 2019, although they make up a smaller share of total robberies now. It's like more people are choosing different ways to rob—if that's any comfort. 😬
Some Good News on Property Crimes 🏠
Here's a bright spot: property crimes are down 0.8% from 2022 and slightly below where they were in 2019. Most of these are thefts (63%), followed by auto thefts (22%) and burglaries (15%). Maybe people are keeping a closer eye on their stuff these days! 👜🔒
County Highlights 📍
Out of 58 counties, 32 saw increases in violent crime, and 7 had jumps of 20% or more. That's like when your favorite show suddenly gets way more dramatic—unexpected and intense. 📺😱
Why Does This Matter?
Understanding these trends helps us figure out what's going on in our communities. Whether you're chilling in California or just curious about what's up, staying informed is always a good look. Let's keep the convo going and support each other! ✌️❤️
Reference(s):
Overall violent crime rate up last year in California: survey
cgtn.com
