SACRAMENTO — Violent and property crime in California declined substantially in 2024, according to early findings released by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). The data, drawn from the Real Time Crime Index and compiled from 29 law enforcement agencies across the state, shows a 4.6% drop in violent crime and an 8.5% decrease in property crime compared to the previous year.
The report offers a snapshot of key public safety trends and coincides with ongoing statewide investments aimed at combating organized retail crime and improving law enforcement capacity.
Among the findings:
- Robberies dropped by 5.2%
- Aggravated assaults fell by 3.9%
- Homicides declined by 5.9%
- Vehicle theft saw an 11.9% decrease
- Burglary and larceny fell by 13.6% and 18.6%, respectively, compared to pre-pandemic levels
The numbers suggest California’s trend mirrors nationwide patterns, with the 8.5% decline in property crime closely matching the 8.4% national reduction observed among other law enforcement agencies.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has attributed part of the decline to a series of substantial investments in crime prevention and law enforcement. Since 2019, California has allocated $1.1 billion toward public safety efforts, including the hiring of additional police officers, community-based intervention programs, and targeted retail theft crackdowns.
In 2023, the state launched what it called the “largest-ever investment” to fight organized retail crime, distributing $267 million to 55 cities and counties. These funds supported law enforcement recruitment, arrests, and prosecution efforts. According to the Governor’s Office, the investment led to a 310% increase in proactive operations targeting retail theft across the state.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) also played a central role in high-visibility enforcement efforts in cities such as Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino. These regional operations focused on vehicle theft, retail crime, and gun-related offenses.
Since the program’s rollout, officials report:
- Nearly 6,000 arrests
- More than 4,500 stolen vehicles recovered
- Approximately 300 firearms seized
Launched in 2019, the CHP-led Organized Retail Crime Task Force has now conducted over 3,600 investigations, leading to more than 4,000 arrests and the recovery of 1.3 million stolen items worth roughly $54 million.
Early 2025 operations are already underway, with the task force reporting 209 arrests from 136 investigations, recovering over 24,000 items valued at nearly $2.2 million.
In a bipartisan effort last August, Governor Newsom signed legislation expanding prosecutorial tools to address property crime, auto burglaries, and smash-and-grab thefts. While California’s crime rate remains near historic lows, administration officials argue that evolving criminal tactics required updated laws to strengthen enforcement.
Under current law, California has one of the toughest thresholds nationally for felony theft charges. A suspect can be charged with a felony for stealing goods worth more than $950, compared to higher thresholds in states like Texas ($2,500), Alabama ($1,500), and Mississippi ($1,000).
While the administration is touting these figures as proof of progress, some civil rights and reform advocates have called for greater transparency in how crime data is compiled, as well as assurances that aggressive policing strategies don’t disproportionately target marginalized communities.
“The drop in crime is welcome,” said one legal analyst, “but we still need to scrutinize how these enforcement strategies are applied—and ensure they don’t come at the expense of civil liberties.”
The final, full-year crime statistics from the California Department of Justice are expected later this year and will provide a more comprehensive picture of statewide trends.
