If you thought California was all sunshine and beaches, think again. 😮 A new Public Policy Institute of California survey reveals the state’s violent crime rate rose by 1.7% last year, hitting 503 incidents per 100,000 residents. While the jump seems slight, it’s part of a bigger picture: violent crime is still 15.4% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels. 📈
Guns, Homicides, and Post-Pandemic Shifts
Homicides spiked by 42.5% between 2019–2021 but dropped nearly 19% since 2021. Still, rates remain 15.5% above 2019. Gun-related crimes? 🔫 Those surged during the pandemic, with homicides and assaults involving firearms up by 54.3% and 65.7%, respectively. While those rates have dipped, they’re still stubbornly higher than pre-COVID levels.
Property Crime: A Silver Lining? 🌤️
Good news: Property crime dipped slightly (0.8%) in 2023, with auto thefts making up 22% of cases. But with 63% of property crimes being larceny, keep an eye on your belongings! 👜
Regional Divide
Crime isn’t spread evenly. 32 of 58 counties saw violent crime rise last year, with seven counties experiencing spikes over 20%. 🌎💥
