San Francisco Crime

Although San Francisco has its crime problems, many neighborhoods, as the homicide map indicates, lead fairly safe lives.

But big-city rules apply: always be alert, pay attention to your surroundings and avoid dangerous situations.

In 2006, the City of Los Angeles, population about 3.9 million, counted 480 homicides or 1.2 for every 100,000 residents. (FBI preliminary figures.)

Oakland, population 399,000, recorded 145 homicides for a rate of 3.6 per 100,000.

San Jose, one of the safest big cities in the country, has a population of 921,000. Its homicides totaled 29 for a rate of .03.

New York City, 8.2 million people, suffered 596 homicides. This gave it a rate of .07.

San Francisco, population 746,085, counted 86 homicides for a rate of 1.2 per 100,000.

Note: population figures from FBI differ from state estimates. Because FBI released limited data for 2006, the charts in this chapter use 2005 statistics.

San Francisco and Los Angeles … in numbers about the same. And in crime demographics similar. Many Los Angeles homicides take place in the poorer neighborhoods; many San Fran homicides show up near a few housing projects.

Many people in these projects lead peaceful lives but unfortunately these areas tend to attract the drug dealers, the gangs and the violent. Often the violence is confined to a few blocks and some of the victims are innocent bystanders. The city has projects around the town. Many of them report little crime.

In 2005, murders in San Francisco flared to 96 and raised fears that the City, like Oakland, was getting out of hand. The cops cracked down and the homicides came down (but violent crimes rose in 2006).

If you visit Bayview or Hunters Point or the Sunnydale project (near Visitacion Valley), crime hotspots, you will see many police cars on patrol. When several people were shot in the Western Addition in 2007, the city beefed up patrols right away.

Cops vs. District Attorney

In 2004 and 2006 police officers were shot to death – the first in what appeared to be an ambush, the second, while arresting an ex-convict. Many cops would like to send all cop killers to the gas chamber. The same with most Californians, many polls and ballots have indicated.

San Francisco opposes the death penalty. District Attorney Kamela Harris, elected by voters, said she would not seek the death penalty for any cases.

So the cops and the district attorney are not simpatico and this maybe has poisoned their relations. Some cops are saying that the district attorney should be sending more people to prison and the district attorney, no surprise — is defending her record and her staff.  

Miscellaneous:

• In 2007, San Francisco passed a law requiring residents to keep their guns in lock boxes or equip them with trigger locks. Even supporters of the law, however, noted that it would have little effect on local shootings because most of them employed illegal guns.

Scams at work in San Fran:

Canadian Lottery. Congratulations, you have won the Canadian lottery for $1 million. Before we can send your check, you must pay the taxes on your winnings. Victims mail in taxes (two women paid $67,000).

Grandson in pickle. Calls to elderly women. I’m your grandson and I’m stuck in Arizona because I lost my wallet (or had car problems.) Please send $450 by Western Union.

Bad-luck money. Fortune teller warns victim that his money needs to be purified. Victim hands over money, expecting it to be returned. Bye, bye!

Healing Beetle. At hair salon, woman suspect strikes up conversation with another woman. Man approaches two women and asks if either one knows of a cure for cancer. Woman suspect takes out beetle and container of water. Beetle dropped into water, which turns black but after stirring clears. Suspect tells woman that this means she has cancer but it can be cured. Another healing beetle in car; $100,000 please. Woman tries to withdraw $100,000 from bank but is turned down. Goes to another bank, withdraws $2,000 and gives it to suspects.

California Crime 

Of the 2,503 homicide victims in 2005 in California, 1,845 were shot to death, the FBI reported.

Of the 1,845, handguns accounted for 1,493 deaths, rifles 83, shotguns 76 and other firearms 193. Knives were used in 288 homicides, other weapons in 237 and hands and fists in 133.

Megan's Law

For a list of registered sex offenders by town or city, go to www.meganslaw.ca.gov

Guns

Many Americans oppose gun control but guns are used in many homicides and assaults.

In 2000, France, about 54 million people, counted 503 murders. In 2002, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), 58 million residents, recorded 513 murders. This works out to about nine murders for every million people.

In the U.S., population about 300 million, homicides in 2005 totaled 16,692 or about 56 murders for every million people. Guns accounted for at least 10,100 deaths, and of these handguns shot 7,543 of the victims. (And compared to 10 or 15 years ago, murders and crime are way down. In 1993, the U.S. recorded 24,526 homicides.)