Violent crimes in San Diego County have increased in the first half of 2022 when compared to numbers in the past decade, according to new data released today by the San Diego Association of Governments.
Although violent crimes have increased in the report authored by the agency’s Criminal Justice Research Division, the Crime in the San Diego Region Mid–The year 2022 Statistics show a decline in property crimes.
The number of reported homicides and robberies increased by 4% and 15 % respectively compared to 2021. The report found that the number of reported rapes and aggravated assaults decreased during the first six months of the year, but aggravated assaults were the second-highest number reported since 2012.
More than 4,000 aggravated assaults were reported during the first half of the year, and although it represented a 1% increase from the year prior, it was 22 percent from five years ago. According to the report, 35% of the aggravated assaults involved the use of another dangerous weapon, 31% strong arm, 19% knife or another cutting instrument, and 15% a firearm
According to SANDAG, aggravated assaults represent about two-thirds of violent crimes reported to law enforcement in any given year.
There were 51 homicides in the first half of 2022, according to the report. The motive could be determined for 32 homicide incidents. Arguments were the motive for 63% of reported homicides, followed by gang involvement at 135, domestic violence at 9%, lover’s triangle at 6%, and 3% for robbery burglary, and institutional killing.
Dr. Cynthia Burke, SANDAG Senior Director of Data Science said these mid-year crime statistics are still relatively low compared to historic highs, there are some increases in the community.
“We know that only about two in every five violent crimes and one in every three property crimes are reported to law enforcement. The cost of victimization is more than monetary, and it is important that we all work together as our communities face several different challenges coming out of the pandemic, which has affected us all in myriad ways,” Burke said.
Of the 18 jurisdictions with violent crime numbers that were large enough to compare in 2021 and 2022, 10 had a higher violent crime rate in the first six months of 2022, and 8 had a lower rate
Property crime dropped 2% in the region in the first half of the year when compared to the first half of 2021. A total of 26,448 property crimes were reported between January and June 2022, an average of 146 per day. This was 2% lower than it was during the first half of 2021, and 5% lower than the first half of 2018.
SANDAG has reported crime statistics for the San Diego Region since 1980 through a cooperative agreement with local law enforcement agencies. To read the full report, visit https://www.sandag.org/uploads/projectid/projectid_130_32885.pdf
