The San Diego area saw an increase in crime during the first half 2021. Crime statistics are up, particularly for certain types of criminal offenses. Consequently, law enforcement has these crimes on their radar.
What Crimes Have Increased in San Diego in 2021?
Violent Crimes
Part I violent crimes include aggravated assault, robbery, rape, and homicide. More than 6,000 of these crimes were reported to local law enforcement in January through June, as reported by SANDAG. This number represents a 14% increase over the 2020. The violent crime rate is 7% higher than it was 10 years ago. In the San Diego area during the first half of 2021 there were:
- 48 homicides
- 532 rapes
- 1,177 robberies
- 4,323 aggravated assaults
- 8,936 domestic violence incidents (including aggravated assaults and other offenses)
Aggravated assaults involving firearms were up by 55%. The 532 rapes reported in San Diego County during the first half of 2021 total approximately 100 more than the rapes reported during the first half of 2020 when the COVID-19 stay-at-home order was in effect.
Hate Crimes
At mid-year 2021, 45 hate crimes had been reported to law enforcement in the San Diego region. Although this number does not represent an increase over 2020, a larger percentage of these crimes have been attributed to race in 2021. The percentage of hate crimes involving Asian victims increased from 6% in 2020 to 18% in 2021. This is consistent with national statistics regarding increases in this type of hate crime since the start of the pandemic.
Property Crimes
Offenses in this category include larceny, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. More than 27,000 property crimes were reported in the San Diego area for the first half of 2021. Of the 25 jurisdictions compared, 17 had higher property crime rates in the first six months of 2021 as compared to 2019.
- While residential burglaries were lower in January through April of 2021, they were up by 9% in May and by 24% in June. Commercial burglaries, on the other hand, were up during January and February, but down for the following four months. A greater percentage of burglaries involved forced entry.
- The 18,036 larcenies reported at mid-year 2021 represent a 10% increase over the previous year.
- Theft of motor vehicles increased by 21% from 4,527 vehicles stolen by mid-year 2020 to 5,462 vehicle thefts at mid-year 2021.
Has the Global Pandemic Affected Crime Rates?
2020 was a year like no other, with the stay-at-home order in place in California. This situation decreased some crime opportunities and increased others. For examples, when businesses were forced to shut down and people were ordered to stay at home, it made commercial burglaries easier to commit and residential burglaries more difficult.
Even before stay-at-home orders were issued, a huge decrease occurred nationwide in rates of all types of crimes, as reported by Econofact. This corresponds with a decrease in mobility of the population. Drug crimes arrests may have decreased because police did not want to overcrowd jails during the pandemic. After lockdowns were lifted and people adjusted to the new normal, overall crime rates remained lower, but certain types of crime increased.
What Should You Do If You Are Arrested?
If you have been arrested for a crime that is eligible for bail, call Balboa Bail Bonds at (619) 760-2222. We can post a surety bond for the full amount of your bail when you pay a non-refundable 10% premium. Our bail bonds agents are experienced, professional, friendly, respectful, and fluent in Spanish. We are open 24/7/365, and a live person will always answer your call.