Crime & Safety
Concord Bucks Bay Area Trend in Rising Violent Crime
FBI stats for 2012 show that Concord was among the few cities that saw a drop in violent crime. Property crime in the city increased over 2011.
Violent crime rose in the Bay Area in 2012, according to data released by the FBI, but Concord's numbers were down.
The statistics for murder, rapes, robbery and aggravated assaults from January to December 2012 show a spike for cities like Antioch, Santa Clara and Oakland, reflecting a rise in violent crime nationally — a first since 2006.
The 2012 Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report compares violent crime rates in 2012 to 2011 in U.S. cities with populations of 100,000 or more. The full report will be released in the fall and include smaller cities.
Nationally, the western region of the United States experienced the steepest rise in violent crime. In the Bay Area, only four cities bucked the trend — Concord, Fremont, Santa Rosa and Vallejo.
Concord boasts a homicide rate of zero for 2012, compared to seven the year before. The number of incidents of rape stayed the same, at 19, robberies dropped from 167 to 153 and aggravated assault went from 237 to 230. Burglaries fell by 69 from 898 to 829. Concord saw increases in property crimes, larceny-theft, vehicle theft and arson. The total overall drop for 2012 was 6.5 percent.
Concord police Chief Guy Swanger says that the decline in violent crime is due to a more aggressive pursuit of drug dealers and gang members, a focus on clearing out homeless encampments, and the use of domestic violence counselors at police headquarters.
Do you feel like Concord is a safer city? Why? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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