California’s violent crime rate grew 1.7 percent last year and is up 5.4 percent since before the pandemic, and shoplifting incidents jumped by about 40 percent in 2023, according to a newly released report from the Public Policy Institute of California.
Statistically, the rate represents 503 crimes per 100,000 residents, according to the report, authored by Magnus Lofstrom, policy director of criminal justice and senior fellow with the institute, and research associate Brandon Martin.
Robberies climbed 3.8 percent—though they remain about 3 percent lower than in 2019—and the number of robberies involving a firearm increased by 11.5 percent compared with pre-pandemic figures.
Aggravated assaults increased by about 1.7 percent last year and are 27.4 percent higher than four years prior….