Crime in the Cities
Reported crimes in Orange County fell for a sixth consecutive year in 1997, dropping below the 100,000 mark. Homicides dipped to the lowest number since 1987. Here is the outlook from each city, with percentage changes from 1996. Some figures may not add to county total because of small agencies not reporting. The county crime rate as measured per 10,000 residents fell for a seventh consecutive year.
Anaheim
Population: 295,500
TOTAL CRIME: 12,185
% change: -17.4
Rate: 412
VIOLENT CRIME: 1,964
% change: -5.2
Rate: 67
HOMICIDE
1996: 14
1997: 15
RAPE
1996: 81
1997: 100
ROBBERY
1996: 978
1997: 812
ASSAULT
1996: 998
1997: 1,037
PROPERTY CRIME: 10,221
% change: -19.4
Rate: 346
BURGLARY
1996: 2,698
1997: 2.270
AUTO THEFT
1996: 2,351
1997: 1,972
LARCENY
1996: 7,550
1997: 5,924
ARSON
1996: 75
1997: 55
*
Brea
Population: 35,250
TOTAL CRIME: 1,859
% change: -2.6
Rate: 527
VIOLENT CRIME: 123
% change: 20.6
Rate: 35
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 2
RAPE
1996: 8
1997: 8
ROBBERY
1996: 30
1997: 40
ASSAULT
1996: 63
1997: 73
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,736
% change: -3.9
Rate: 493
BURGLARY
1996: 264
1997: 323
AUTO THEFT
1996: 226
1996: 168
LARCENY
1996: 1,308
1997: 1,241
ARSON
1996: 9
1997: 4
Buena Park
Population: 73,100
TOTAL CRIME: 2,796
% change: -12.7
Rate: 383
VIOLENT CRIME: 347
% change: 2.7
Rate: 48
HOMICIDE
1996: 3
1997: 2
RAPE
1996: 19
1997: 22
ROBBERY
1996: 157
1997: 170
ASSAULT
1996: 159
1997: 153
PROPERTY CRIME: 2,449
% change: -14.5
Rate: 335
BURGLARY
1996: 602
1997: 549
AUTO THEFT
1996: 708
1997: 574
LARCENY
1996: 1,506
1997: 1,307
ARSON
1996: 47
1997: 19
Costa Mesa
Population: 102,600
TOTAL CRIME: 4,644
% change: -14.4
Rate: 453
VIOLENT CRIME: 371
% change: -1.1
Rate: 36
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 3
RAPE
1996: 22
1997: 32
ROBBERY
1996: 158
1997: 145
ASSAULT
1996: 194
1997: 191
PROPERTY CRIME: 4,273
% change: -15.4
Rate: 417
BURGLARY
1996: 892
1997: 613
AUTO THEFT
1996: 615
1997: 545
LARCENY
1996: 3,531
1997: 3,106
ARSON
1996: 11
1997: 9
Cypress
Population: 47,050
TOTAL CRIME: 1,448
% change: -11.4
Rate: 308
VIOLENT CRIME: 175
% change: 10.8
Rate: 37
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 8
1997: 8
ROBBERY
1996: 70
1997: 58
ASSAULT
1996: 80
1997: 110
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,273
% change: -13.8
Rate: 271
BURGLARY
1996: 305
1997: 245
AUTO THEFT
1996: 256
1997: 195
LARCENY
1996: 903
1997: 822
ARSON
1996: 12
1997: 11
Dana Point
Population: 36,200
TOTAL CRIME: 1,151
% change: -6.5
Rate: 318
VIOLENT CRIME: 109
% change: -32.7
Rate: 30
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 6
1997: 4
ROBBERY
1996: 24
1997: 18
ASSAULT
1996: 132
1997: 87
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,042
% change: -2.5
Rate: 288
BURGLARY
1996: 252
1997: 211
AUTO THEFT
1996: 66
1997: 63
LARCENY
1996: 743
1997: 760
ARSON
1996: 8
1997: 8
Fountain Valley
Population: 54,800
TOTAL CRIME: 2,096
% change: -7.5
Rate: 383
VIOLENT CRIME: 164
% change: 26.2
Rate: 30
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 2
1997: 7
ROBBERY
1996: 68
1997: 67
ASSAULT
1996: 60
1997: 90
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,932
% change: -9.6
Rate: 353
BURGLARY
1996: 325
1997: 306
AUTO THEFT
1996: 309
1997: 256
LARCENY
1996: 1,494
1997: 1,361
ARSON
1996: 8
1997: 9
Fullerton
Population: 122,800
TOTAL CRIME: 4,815
% change: -8.5
Rate: 392
VIOLENT CRIME: 437
% change: -9.9
Rate: 36
HOMICIDE
1996: 5
1997: 2
RAPE
1996: 26
1997: 30
ROBBERY
1996: 201
1997: 157
ASSAULT
1996: 253
1997: 248
PROPERTY CRIME: 4,378
% change: -8.3
Rate: 357
BURGLARY
1996: 930
1997: 783
AUTO THEFT
1996: 721
1997: 587
LARCENY
1996: 3,110
1997: 2,989
ARSON
1996: 14
1997: 19
Garden Grove
Population: 152,000
TOTAL CRIME: 5,965
% change: -8.7
Rate: 392
VIOLENT CRIME: 810
% change: -4.3
Rate: 53
HOMICIDE
1996: 5
1997: 3
RAPE
1996: 34
1997: 22
ROBBERY
1996: 309
1997: 276
ASSAULT
1996: 498
1997: 509
PROPERTY CRIME: 5,145
% change: -9.3
Rate: 339
BURGLARY
1996: 1,229
1997: 1,186
AUTO THEFT
1996: 1,158
1997: 1,028
LARCENY
1996: 3,245
1997: 2,895
ARSON
1996: 42
1997: 36
Huntington Beach
Population: 188,500
TOTAL CRIME: 6,458
% change: -12.0
Rate: 343
VIOLENT CRIME: 643
% change: 5.2
Rate: 34
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 5
RAPE
1996: 26
1997: 34
ROBBERY
1996: 194
1997: 111
ASSAULT
1996: 391
1997: 493
PROPERTY CRIME: 5,812
% change: -13.5
Rate: 309
BURGLARY
1996: 1,629
1997: 1,419
AUTO THEFT
1996: 904
1997: 743
LARCENY
1996: 4,161
1997: 3,636
ARSON
1996: 31
1997: 17
Irvine
Population: 129,300
TOTAL CRIME: 3,727
% change: -9.6
Rate: 288
VIOLENT CRIME: 220
% change: -19.7
Rate: 17
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 1
RAPE
1996: 22
1997: 10
ROBBERY
1996: 65
1997: 44
ASSAULT
1996: 186
1997: 165
PROPERTY CRIME: 3,507
% change: -8.9
Rate: 271
BURGLARY
1996: 837
1997: 860
AUTO THEFT
1996: 332
1997: 346
LARCENY
1996: 2,647
1997: 2,264
ARSON
1996: 33
1997: 37
La Habra
Population: 54,400
TOTAL CRIME: 2,100
% change: -9.5
Rate: 386
VIOLENT CRIME: 392
% change: -19.0
Rate: 72
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 3
RAPE
1996: 13
1997: 16
ROBBERY
1996: 92
1997: 51
ASSAULT
1996: 378
1997: 322
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,708
% change: -7.0
Rate: 314
BURGLARY
1996: 404
1997: 436
AUTO THEFT
1996: 266
1997: 205
LARCENY
1996: 1,157
1997: 1,059
ARSON
1996: 9
1997: 8
La Palma
Population: 15,750
TOTAL CRIME: 483
% change: -23.1
Rate: 307
VIOLENT CRIME: 56
% change: 9.8
Rate: 36
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 2
1997: 2
ROBBERY
1996: 25
1997: 24
ASSAULT
1996: 24
1997: 30
PROPERTY CRIME: 427
% change: -26
Rate: 271
BURGLARY
1996: 112
1997: 78
AUTO THEFT
1996: 132
1997: 80
LARCENY
1996: 331
1997: 267
ARSON
1996: 2
1997: 2
Laguna Beach
Population: 24,100
TOTAL CRIME: 919
% change: -18.5
Rate: 381
VIOLENT CRIME: 136
% change: 47.8
Rate: 56
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 9
1997: 12
ROBBERY
1996: 10
1997: 13
ASSAULT
1996: 73
1997: 111
PROPERTY CRIME: 783
% change: -24.3
Rate: 325
BURGLARY
1996: 247
1997: 224
AUTO THEFT
1996: 66
1997: 47
LARCENY
1996: 721
1997: 510
ARSON
1996: 1
1997: 2
Laguna Hills
Population: 29,590
TOTAL CRIME: 1,029
% change: 3.8
Rate: 444
VIOLENT CRIME: 75
% change: -14.8
Rate: 25
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 4
1997: 4
ROBBERY
1996: 28
1997: 19
ASSAULT
1996: 56
1997: 52
PROPERTY CRIME: 954
% change: 5.6
Rate: 319
BURGLARY
1996: 217
1997: 203
AUTO THEFT
1996: 85
1997: 107
LARCENY
1996: 592
1997: 639
ARSON
1996: 9
1997: 5
Laguna Niguel
Population: 56,400
TOTAL CRIME: 1,208
% change: 21.4
Rate: 214
VIOLENT CRIME: 73
% change: -35.4
Rate: 13
HOMICIDE
1996: 2
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 5
1997: 4
ROBBERY
1996: 18
1997: 12
ASSAULT
1996: 88
1997: 57
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,135
% change: 28.7
Rate: 201
BURGLARY
1996: 222
1997: 287
AUTO THEFT
1996: 58
1997: 96
LARCENY
1996: 589
1997: 746
ARSON
1996: 13
1997: 6
Lake Forest
Population: 57,800
TOTAL CRIME: 1,214
% change: -6.0
Rate: 210
VIOLENT CRIME: 134
% change: -10.7
Rate: 23
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 9
1997: 4
ROBBERY
1996: 29
1997: 31
ASSAULT
1996: 112
1997: 99
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,080
% change: -5.3
Rate: 187
BURGLARY
1996: 255
1997: 261
AUTO THEFT
1996: 118
1997: 113
LARCENY
1996: 756
1997: 698
ARSON
1996: 12
1997: 8
Los Alamitos
Population: 11,650
TOTAL CRIME: 436
% change: -8.0
Rate: 374
VIOLENT CRIME: 57
% change: 32.6
Rate: 49
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 1
RAPE
1996: 5
1997: 1
ROBBERY
1996: 22
1997: 25
ASSAULT
1996: 16
1997: 30
PROPERTY CRIME: 379
% change: -12.1
Rate: 325
BURGLARY
1996: 131
1997: 94
AUTO THEFT
1996: 69
1997: 54
LARCENY
1996: 224
1997: 224
ARSON
1996: 7
1997: 7
Mission Viejo
Population: 91,900
TOTAL CRIME: 1,912
% change: --4.9
Rate: 208
VIOLENT CRIME: 117
% change: -36.1
Rate: 13
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 2
RAPE
1996: 4
1997: 7
ROBBERY
1996: 32
1997: 29
ASSAULT
1996: 146
1997: 79
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,795
% change: 1.8
Rate: 195
BURGLARY
1996: 438
1997: 410
AUTO THEFT
1996: 128
1997: 119
LARCENY
1996: 1,244
1997: 1,254
ARSON
1996: 17
1997: 12
Newport Beach
Population: 70,000
TOTAL CRIME: 2,944
% change: -7.3
Rate: 421
VIOLENT CRIME: 227
% change: -5.4
Rate: 32
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 20
1997: 12
ROBBERY
1996: 46
1997: 27
ASSAULT
1996: 174
1997: 188
PROPERTY CRIME: 2,717
% change: -7.5
Rate: 388
BURGLARY
1996: 788
1997: 871
AUTO THEFT
1996: 245
1997: 281
LARCENY
1996: 1,891
1997: 1,557
ARSON
1996: 13
1997: 8
Orange
Population: 122,300
TOTAL CRIME: 3,539
% change: -14.2
Rate: 289
VIOLENT CRIME: 533
% change: -5.2
Rate: 44
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 12
RAPE
1996: 30
1997: 29
ROBBERY
1996: 177
1997: 106
ASSAULT
1996: 354
1997: 386
PROPERTY CRIME: 3,006
% change: -15.6
Rate: 246
BURGLARY
1996: 878
1997: 701
AUTO THEFT
1996: 627
1997: 537
LARCENY
1996: 2,019
1997: 1,725
ARSON
1996: 39
1997: 43
Placentia
Population: 45,550
TOTAL CRIME: 1,273
% change: 7.9
Rate: 280
VIOLENT CRIME: 173
% change: 21.8
Rate: 38
HOMICIDE
1996: 3
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 2
1997: 3
ROBBERY
1996: 48
1997: 24
ASSAULT
1996: 89
1997: 146
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,100
% change: -6.0
Rate: 242
BURGLARY
1996: 274
1997: 288
AUTO THEFT
1996: 139
1997: 122
LARCENY
1996: 606
1997: 683
ARSON
1996: 19
1997: 7
San Clemente
Population: 47,300
TOTAL CRIME: 1,270
% change: -7.6
Rate: 269
VIOLENT CRIME: 158
% change: -27.2
Rate: 33
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 1
RAPE
1996: 7
1997: 9
ROBBERY
1996: 41
1997: 42
ASSAULT
1996: 168
1997: 106
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,112
% change: -3.9
Rate: 235
BURGLARY
1996: 247
1997: 246
AUTO THEFT
1996: 103
1997: 99
LARCENY
1996: 793
1997: 760
ARSON
1996: 14
1997: 7
San Juan Capistrano
Population: 29,650
TOTAL CRIME: 818
% change: -15.3
Rate: 276
VIOLENT CRIME: 96
% change: -28.9
Rate: 32
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 1
RAPE
1996: 3
1997: 6
ROBBERY
1996: 20
1997: 21
ASSAULT
1996: 111
1997: 68
PROPERTY CRIME: 722
% change: -13.1
Rate: 244
BURGLARY
1996: 153
1997: 175
AUTO THEFT
1996: 67
1997: 70
LARCENY
1996: 602
1997: 472
ARSON
1996: 9
1997: 5
Santa Ana
Population: 307,000
TOTAL CRIME: 12,420
% change: -8.6
Rate: 405
VIOLENT CRIME: 2,016
% change: -9.6
Rate: 66
HOMICIDE
1996: 46
1997: 27
RAPE
1996: 62
1997: 91
ROBBERY
1996: 1,178
1997: 978
ASSAULT
1996: 945
1997: 920
PROPERTY CRIME: 10,404
% change: -8.4
Rate: 339
BURGLARY
1996: 1,822
1997: 1,605
AUTO THEFT
1996: 2,659
1997: 2,681
LARCENY
1996: 6,501
1997: 5,748
ARSON
1996: 376
1997: 370
Seal Beach
Population: 26,350
TOTAL CRIME: 614
% change: -21.3
Rate: 233
VIOLENT CRIME: 99
% change: -13.2
Rate: 38
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 1
RAPE
1996: 1
1997: 3
ROBBERY
1996: 18
1997: 18
ASSAULT
1996: 94
1997: 77
PROPERTY CRIME: 515
% change: -22.7
Rate: 195
BURGLARY
1996: 122
1997: 116
AUTO THEFT
1996: 102
1997: 94
LARCENY
1996: 440
1997: 301
ARSON
1996: 2
1997: 4
Stanton
Population: 33,000
TOTAL CRIME: 1,484
% change: -5.5
Rate: 450
VIOLENT CRIME: 229
% change: -19.1
Rate: 69
HOMICIDE
1996: 2
1997: 5
RAPE
1996: 7
1997: 6
ROBBERY
1996: 72
1997: 70
ASSAULT
1996: 297
1997: 202
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,255
% change: -2.5
Rate: 380
BURGLARY
1996: 387
1997: 297
AUTO THEFT
1996: 241
1997: 237
LARCENY
1996: 638
1997: 700
ARSON
1996: 21
1997: 21
Tustin
Population: 65,300
TOTAL CRIME: 2,519
% change: -8.6
Rate: 386
VIOLENT CRIME: 341
% change: 94.9
Rate: 52
HOMICIDE
1996: 3
1997: 3
RAPE
1996: 12
1997: 10
ROBBERY
1996: 66
1997: 67
ASSAULT
1996: 94
1997: 261
PROPERTY CRIME: 2,178
% change: -15.6
Rate: 334
BURGLARY
1996: 609
1997: 470
AUTO THEFT
1996: 314
1997: 255
LARCENY
1996: 1,637
1997: 1,442
ARSON
1996: 22
1997: 11
Villa Park
Population: 6,450
TOTAL CRIME: 129
% change: 33.0
Rate: 200
VIOLENT CRIME: 12
% change: 300.0
Rate: 19
HOMICIDE
1996: 0
1997: 1
RAPE
1996: 0
1997: 0
ROBBERY
1996: 2
1997: 3
ASSAULT
1996: 1
1997: 8
PROPERTY CRIME: 117
% change: 24.5
Rate: 181
BURGLARY
1996: 31
1997: 41
AUTO THEFT
1996: 6
1997: 11
LARCENY
1996: 56
1997: 64
ARSON
1996: 1
1997: 1
Westminster
Population: 83,100
TOTAL CRIME: 4,016
% change: -9.3
Rate: 483
VIOLENT CRIME: 327
% change: -22.9
Rate: 39
HOMICIDE
1996: 9
1997: 8
RAPE
1996: 20
1997: 26
ROBBERY
1996: 220
1997: 145
ASSAULT
1996: 175
1997: 148
PROPERTY CRIME: 3,689
% change: -7.8
Rate: 444
BURGLARY
1996: 792
1997: 792
AUTO THEFT
1996: 848
1997: 608
LARCENY
1996: 2,330
1997: 2,255
ARSON
1996: 33
1997: 34
Yorba Linda
Population: 58,500
TOTAL CRIME: 1,130
% change: 0.5
Rate: 193
VIOLENT CRIME: 84
% change: 12.0
Rate: 14
HOMICIDE
1996: 1
1997: 0
RAPE
1996: 4
1997: 6
ROBBERY
1996: 14
1997: 11
ASSAULT
1996: 56
1997: 67
PROPERTY CRIME: 1,046
% change: -0.3
Rate: 179
BURGLARY
1996: 204
1997: 178
AUTO THEFT
1996: 105
1997: 82
LARCENY
1996: 731
1997: 776
ARSON
1996: 9
1997: 10
Unincorporated
Population: 185,900
TOTAL CRIME: 3,396
% change: -5.3
Rate: 183
VIOLENT CRIME: 425
% change: -21.2
Rate: 23
HOMICIDE
1996: 4
1996: 9
RAPE
1996: 13
1997: 24
ROBBERY
1996: 77
1997: 88
ASSAULT
1996: 440
1997: 309
PROPERTY CRIME: 2,971
% change: -2.5
Rate: 160
BURGLARY
1996: 845
1997: 818
AUTO THEFT
1996: 355
1997: 311
LARCENY
1996: 1,796
1997: 1,820
ARSON
1996: 52
1996: 22
Countywide
Population: 2,659,300
TOTAL CRIME: 93,313
% change: -10.0
Rate: 351
VIOLENT CRIME: 11,204
% change: -6.6
Rate: 42
HOMICIDE
1996: 111
1997: 102
RAPE
1996: 492
1997: 554
ROBBERY
1996: 4,494
1997: 3,707
ASSAULT
1996: 6,905
1997: 6,841
PROPERTY CRIME: 82,109
% change: -10.5
Rate: 309
BURGLARY
1996: 19,261
1997: 17,504
AUTO THEFT
1996: 14,509
1997: 12,802
LARCENY
1996: 56,976
1997: 50,983
ARSON
1996: 974
1997: 820
Sources: FBI, State Department of Finance
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