California Crime Statistics: What You Need To Know

April 24, 2025 | Nafiz M. Ahmed

Even as violent crime trends downward nationwide, you may have doubts about your safety in California. Some politicians portray the Golden State as crime-ridden and unsafe, while others suggest residents and visitors are in less danger than they were during past crime surges.

When it comes down to brass tacks, recent crime statistics present mixed results: Certain overall crime rates remain elevated, though not all types of crime are occurring with the same frequency. Thus, the answer as to whether California is safe depends on where you live (or visit) and the types of crime you are concerned with.

Violent Crime Rate Increased in 2023

The overall violent crime rate in California rose in 2023 to 503 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, representing a 1.7 percent increase from 2022’s rate of 495 crimes per 100,000 residents and a 15.4 percent increase from 2019.

Overall, the 2023 rate is still far lower than thirty years prior, which was 1,115 crimes per 100,000 residents, but it is indeed higher than the 2023 national average, which sat at 363.8 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

Homicides and Rapes Are Decreasing; Robberies Are Increasing

Although the state’s violent crime rate has increased and remains higher than it was before the start of the new decade, that does not mean all forms of violent crime are increasing in frequency. Homicides, for example, decreased by 13.7 percent from 2022 to 2023. Similarly, rapes have decreased in frequency by three percent.

Instead, the increase in the violent crime rate has been driven by crimes such as robbery and aggravated assault, which increased by 3.8 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, from 2022 to 2023. Even so, the number of robberies remains more than three percent below the number recorded before 2020.

Property Crime Rates Down, But Still Elevated

In 2023, California’s property crime rate stood at 2,294 crimes per 100,000 residents, coming in at 0.8 percent less than 2022’s rate and 0.3 percent less than the rate in 2019. The state’s property crime rate is higher than the national average of 1,916.7 crimes per 100,000 people. (However, like California’s rate, the national rate also decreased slightly from 2022.)

Of all property crimes in California, the three most frequently reported crimes were larceny thefts, burglaries, and auto thefts. Larceny and burglary both decreased in 2023 by 2.4 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively. The frequency of both crimes remains below their 2019 numbers, but auto thefts rose by 8.6 percent, and shoplifting did as well by 39.9 percent.

Crime Rates Vary by Region

California is certainly a large state, and the rates of crime in one area are not reflective of the rates in others. For example, Imperial, Orange, San Diego, and Ventura Counties recorded an average violent crime rate of 338 crimes per 100,000. Similarly, the Sierra region’s property crime rate was only 1,166 crimes per 100,000 residents.

Conversely, the violent crime rate in the San Joaquin Valley was the highest in the state at 641 crimes per 100,000 people. The San Francisco Bay had the highest property crime rate in the state: 3,167 crimes per 100,000 residents.

Property crimes decreased in 46 counties in 2023, with Kern, Fresno, and Santa Clara Counties noting the most significant decline.

Overall, 32 of the state’s 58 counties faced a rise in their violent crime rates.

The following five counties experienced the greatest increase in their property crime rate from 2022 to 2023:

San Joaquin County
Contra Costa County
San Bernadino County
Los Angeles County
Orange County

Alameda County saw the most significant jump in its property crime rate, as its 2023 rate is 28 percent higher than it was in 2022.

Tips for Avoiding Becoming the Victim of Crime in California

If you live in or plan to visit California, you can take these steps to reduce the chance of becoming a victim of violent or property crime:

Do not display valuable jewelry or other expensive items on your person in public
Avoid traveling in unfamiliar or isolated areas, especially at night
If possible, travel with someone else, especially if you are going to a new area of town
If you carry pepper spray or a taser, make sure you know how to use it safely
Having a whistle on you can help you summon assistance if you are attacked
Be aware of your surroundings and leave if a situation makes you feel uncomfortable

Finally, if you plan on being out for longer than usual, consider telling a friend or family member about your plans and when you intend to return. Someone you trust can then contact the police if you fail to check in with them.

Remember that you are more likely to be involved in a property-related crime, including a robbery, than you are to be in a violent crime, such as a homicide or rape. If someone does accost you and demands your property, the safest option is often to give the person what they want and file and report the encounter to the police.

Why California Crime Statistics Matter

In sum, available crime statistics show that, on average, crime is more common in California than throughout the rest of the nation. Unlike the general downward trend of violent crime rates, California’s violent crime rate increased slightly in 2023; however, the state’s property crime rate followed the nation’s downward trend.

No matter how you look at these statistics, they do not mean that you are necessarily at an ever-increasing risk of being attacked or killed. Instead, the rise in violent crime is being driven in part by crimes involving the forcible taking of property. Staying alert to your surroundings and practicing safe behaviors can reduce your risk of being victimized.

Contact our Crime Defense Law Firm of Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys Today For Help

For more information please contact our criminal defense law firm of Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys at the nearest location for a free consultation.

Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys – San Jose Office
1625 The Alameda, Suite 405, San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 217-8818

Ahmed & Sukaram, Criminal Defense Attorneys – Redwood City Office
600 Allerton St Suite 201G, Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 299-0500