Violent crime hits 35-year-low

The violent crime rate in San Diego County fell 6 percent last year to its lowest figure in 35 years, although the number of homicides and rapes increased, according to statistics released by the San Diego Association of Governments.

In Ramona, the violent crime rate fell 25 percent in 2014 over the previous year with 1.61 cases per 1,000 resident population, statistics show.

The violent crime rate in San Diego County has declined steadily since peaking at 9.76 per 1,000 resident population in 1992. Last year, 10,583 crimes like homicide, robbery and aggravated assault were reported to local law enforcement agencies, bringing the rate 3.31 per 1,000 resident population, according to the report, “Thirty-Five Years of Crime in the San Diego Region: 1980 Through 2014,” released Wednesday. The regional agency began reporting regional crime statistics in 1980.

“These regional statistics show San Diego County has never been a safer place to live than it is today,” said Cynthia Burke, the agency’s criminal justice research director.

According to the report, the San Diego region saw 11 percent fewer robberies last year compared with 2013, although robberies of banks increased slightly. Around 45 percent of robberies occurred last year in public areas and 17 percent involved the use of a firearm.

Ramona had four robberies last year, one less than in 2013.

The 88 hate crimes reported in San Diego County last year represented a 20 percent drop from 2013 and a 39 percent decrease from five years earlier, according to the report.

The number of homicides increased from 70 in 2013 to 74 last year, but officials said the most recent rate was the third lowest in 35 years. No homicides were reported in Ramona for 2013 or 2014.

Murders in the San Diego region peaked at 278 in 1991.

The report listed legislation that increased sentences, gang activity task forces and crime prevention programs among possible factors contributing to the drop in crime rates.

“In 2014, we saw one-year declines in five of the seven major crimes and 35-year lows in robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft and larceny,” Burke said. “While it is impossible to say with absolute certainty what factors are most responsible for these declines, it appears that investigative and technological advances have been especially key in enabling law enforcement to arrest prolific offenders and better share information among justice stakeholders.”

The property crime rate in San Diego County dropped 17 percent and also hit a 35-year low last year, settling at 18.49 per 1,000 resident population. More than 59,000 property crimes were reported last year.

Ramona’s property crime rate dropped 16 percent, falling to 6.86 per 1,000 resident population. Since 2010, Ramona’s property crime rate has decreased 48 percent.

Vehicle theft and burglary rates also reached 35-year lows in the region. There were 22 percent fewer burglaries last year compared with 2013. The property stolen on any given day was valued at more than $415,000 and around 20 percent of it was later recovered.

Ramona saw about a 50 percent drop in vehicle thefts with 15 cases last year, compared to 34 in 2013. Also down were burglaries with 65 burglaries in 2014, and 94 the previous year. The property recovery rate, however, was down 31 percent.

The report wasn’t filled only with good news.

The 763 reported rapes in the San Diego region last year represented a 14 percent increase from 2013. Ramona remained steady with five reported rapes in 2013 and on 2014.

In the region, the number of violent crimes against those 60 and older rose 6 percent last year and domestic violence rose 2 percent.

The 392 arson fires in the region last year showed a 12 percent increase from the year before, while Ramona had no arson fires during that time period, according to the report.

CNS-04-22-2015 09:16