City of Santa Cruz 2015 Year- End Crime Statistics

The Santa Cruz Police Department is releasing End-of-Year statistics for 2015. These statistics represent work volumes and crime trends.

2015 represented the fourth year in a row that calls for service surpassed the 100,000 mark. In 2015, the Santa Cruz Police Department handled 103,645 calls for service. On average, this represents one call every five minutes.

In 2015, the City of Santa Cruz experienced a rise in property crime, driven mainly by increases in burglary, auto thefts, shoplifting and bike thefts. The City also saw some decreases in violent crime. Overall, the year-end statistics reflect a 7% increase in crime.
-There were 499 violent crimes reported in Santa Cruz in 2015, about a 5% decrease from 2014.
-There was a significant decrease of 30% for rape reports.
- Aggravated assaults decreased by 4%.
- 1 of the 2 homicides in 2015 was gang related.

Santa Cruz property crime increased in 2015; the city experienced a 9% increase from the 2014 numbers.
- Auto thefts increased by 20% at 300 thefts.
- Larceny, which includes thefts such as bike, vehicle burglary, petty theft, increased by 9%.
- Reported bike thefts have increased by 19% over 2014 totals at 479 thefts.

Following statewide trends on the heels of Prop 47, SCPD made fewer in-custody arrests in 2015. The Department went from an average of 13.7 arrests per day to 11.9 arrests per day.

For the first two months in 2016, the overall crime rate is down 2%.

The Santa Cruz Police Department continues to work together with various City and County programs to create and sustain conditions that promote long-term safety and solutions.

In addition to our Patrol workload, the Santa Cruz Police Department continues to support neighborhoods, community groups and business associations by engaging them in ways to protect themselves and their property.

Monthly Uniform Crime Report (UCR) stats are posted on our Website at www.santacruzpolice.com

For more information on crime trends and a multi-year perspective see our November 2015 Public Safety Study Session presentation to the City Council on our blog here: http://goo.gl/tyXZGv