Roseville Crime Rate Hits 17 Year Low

Roseville, Calif.- In 2012, Roseville’s crime rate was 2,944 reported crimes per 100,000 residents, the city’s lowest per-capita crime rate in at least 17 years.

In comments to Roseville’s City Council on January 16, Police Chief Daniel Hahn attributed the drop in crime to the police department and the community working together to improve Roseville’s quality of life.

According to FBI statistics, during the first six months of 2012, California cities of  100,000 or more  residents collectively reported a 9 percent increase in property crimes over 2011. During the same period of time, Roseville posted a nearly 10 percent decrease in property crimes. 

Chief Hahn told City Council that there are two types of conditions that affect crime; those beyond our control, like the price of metal driving up demand; and factors that are within our control, like locking our doors and securing our property, watching out for our neighbors, and working together as a community to solve problems. 

“This is not just a police department celebration–it’s a community victory.  We look forward to an even better year in 2013.”

Police Chief Daniel Hahn

From 2011 to 2012, Roseville patrol officers increased their discretionary activities, like traffic stops, subject stops and directed patrols in higher-crime areas by five percent.  Not to be outdone, Roseville community members increased their calls to police about suspicious activities by seven percent.  A recent example of police-community teamwork is  a new “etch and catch” service to prevent the theft of catalytic converters, provided for free by three Roseville auto-service businesses and the City’s Citizen’s Benefit Fund.

Violent Crime by Category

• Homicides increased by one, from 1 in 2011 to 2 in 2012
• Rape reports decreased 38 percent, from 24 in 2011 to 15 in 2012.
• Robberies increased 95 percent, from 43 in 2011 to 84 in 2012.  Chief Hahn noted while this was of concern, robberies hit an unusually low point in 2011, falling 51 percent below the previous year.  The average number of robberies reported over the past 17 years was 71 per year.
• Aggravated assaults increased 7 percent, from 180 to 192.

The 2012 violent crime rate of 240 violent crimes per 100,000 residents was Roseville’s second-lowest rate in 17 years; 2011 was the lowest.

Property Crime by Category

• Burglaries decreased 7 percent, from 533 to 496.
• Thefts of all kinds (vehicle burglaries, shoplifts, metal thefts, cell phone thefts, bike thefts  and so forth) decreased 8 percent, from 2,786 to 2,559
• Motor vehicle thefts increased 5 percent, from 221 to 233.  This was due to a spike in auto thefts in November.
• Arsons increased by two, from 11 to 13.

The total 2012 property crime rate of 2,704 property crimes per 100,000 residents was Roseville’s lowest rate in 17 years.