Violent Crime Surges, Spreads From Urban Centers

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KCBS)  -- Violent crime is up, according to new FBI statistics that show some suburbs also confronted by crimes once limited only to large cities.

Compared to the first half of 2005, four Bay Area cities recorded double-digit increases in homicide, rape, robbery, and assault during the first half of this year. Oakland saw a 38 percent increase in violent crime, compared to a 19 percent increase in San Francisco.

For 15 years, violent crime had been on the decline, and criminologists said the prevalence of methamphetamine accounts for only part of the dramatic surge seen this year.

Antioch Mayor Donald Freitas believes the 16 percent increase in Antioch stems in part from criminals coming from out of town to prey on locals.

“ I think from their perspective, it's easy pickings,” Freitas told KCBS reporter Holly Quan.

Suburban cities have to face up to problems that only urban cities used to have to deal with and put more money into police services, Freitas said.

“This is a collaborative effort. You have to have the community engaged, the police department engaged,” he said. “The residents have to be the eyes and ears for the police department.”

Nationwide, homicides increased 1.4 percent. Rape decreased .1 percent.

(jro)