SMPD 2021 Crime Statistics
January 25, 2022 4:38 PM
by Ramón Batista
Download 2021 Crime Statistics Summary
The information above provides a 2021 review of crime, calls for service and arrests data for the City of Santa Monica. This information provides an overview of Part I type crimes compared to previous years. Part 1 offenses include Homicide, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Larceny, Grand Theft Auto and Arson. The past two years have been an anomaly across the country due to the civil unrest of 2020 and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. A five year history provides context for our city’s most recent crime trends.
SMPD’s Criminal Intelligence Analysts conducted a review and analysis of this information. It is important to note, this is preliminary data used to inform the public. Information is extracted by the occurrence date and may change after review and investigation. The information obtained by our analysts gives our department the opportunity to strategically plan how we efficiently and effectively protect our city.
Part I crimes were down about 2.9% in 2021. A notable decrease is seen in the categories of Rape, Residential Burglary, and overall Larceny – Theft. However, when reviewing the 5 year data, our city has experienced the following increases:
- In 2021, firearm use in Aggravated Assaults shows the highest number of incidents in five years.
- Non-Residential Burglary shows an increase over the last five years. In 2019, the numbers declined, however in 2020 the City saw a significant spike in this category due to Covid-related closures and the civil unrest on May 31, 2020.
- Auto Parts Theft show a significant increase over the past five years. The increase is largely due to the prevalence of catalytic converter thefts.
- Grand Theft incidents show an increase in the last five years. Notably, trucks and “other” vehicles show an observable increase.
- Lastly, Arson shows an increase over the past five years. More than 40% involve trash and recycle bins set on fire.
Although the overall numbers of reported crimes are down, we are sensitive to and respect the fear of crime. Our focus and attention to issues of crime and disorder will always be a top priority at SMPD.
Your police department strives to provide transparency, we are committed to openness and accountability. We are dedicated and will continue to work in conjunction with our civic and community partners to solve problems and make our city a safe and great place to live, work and visit.
The Santa Monica police department is a Constitutional organization driven by the principles of democracy. We are committed to providing the absolute best service and public safety while protecting everyone’s rights, practicing the tenets of 21st Century policing.
Authored By
Ramón Batista
Chief of Police