Albany Property Crime Rose 12.8% in 2012

Serious property crimes in Albany increased 12.8 percent in 2012 over the previous year, according to recently released crime statistics from the FBI.

Violent crimes by contrast decreased slightly, to 35 in 2012 from 37 the previous year, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports.

The four categories of serious property crimes – burglary, larceny-theft, stolen autos and arson – rose to 537 in 2012 from 476 in 2011.

The upward trend appears to be continuing this year, Albany Police Chief Mike McQuiston told community members at the department's "Safety Palooza" open house in July. 

The yearly numbers released last week by the Federal Bureau of Investigation showed that Albany's violent crime rate last year – 1.8 per 1,000 population – was on the lower end of the range among 24 East Bay cities, led by Oakland (19.3), El Cerrito (5.2), Pinole (4.8) and Berkeley (4.2). The lowest rate was in Moraga and Orinda (each 0.3), followed by Danville (0.4) and Pleasanton and San Ramon (each 0.6).

In property crimes, Albany's rate of 28 per 1,000 residents ranked 11th among the 24 communities. Oakland again was first (65), followed by Berkeley (50) and Pleasant Hill (47.6). Lowest was Moraga (9.2), followed by Danville (10) and San Ramon (11.4).

The FBI's Uniform Crime Reports showed a nationwide increase of violent crimes and a decrease of property crimes, based on crime data from 18,000 jurisdictions in 50 states.

The data also included the number of police officers in the nation’s police departments, including the per capita. Berkeley has 1.3 sworn officers for every 1,000 residents, slightly higher than the East Bay average of 1.2.

See the attached map for the number and ratio of officers in other East Bay police departments.

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