As we’ve previously explained in Fact Check, more cars are stolen in the San Diego region each year than much of the nation. While law enforcement authorities have reported fewer car thieves in recent years, the region still ranks above most places.
But that dynamic isn’t the same for all other serious crime categories tracked by law enforcement officials across the nation, as illustrated in the graphic above. More than a hundred other metropolitan areas rank ahead of San Diego in each category.
I calculated the rankings above using this national database of crime statistics. I pulled the data a few weeks ago to help examine District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’ description of declining auto theft and then decided to check out other crime categories, too.
Though San Diego is often called one of America’s safest big cities, I don’t usually hear the comparison extended to the entire metropolitan area. That’s why I found the rankings particularly interesting. It confirmed where the broader region fits in the national landscape.
Keegan Kyle is a news reporter for voiceofsandiego.org. He writes about public safety and handles the Fact Check Blog. What should he write about next?
Please contact him directly at keegan.kyle@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5668. You can also find him on Twitter (@keegankyle) and Facebook.
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