SACRAMENTO, Calif — In 2018, between the four types of thefts handled by the Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento saw an increase of 686 total thefts crimes from the previous year.
The city's Uniform Crime Statistics report included the following numbers for theft crimes in 2018:
- Robbery - 1,052
- Burglary - 2,751
- Larceny - 9,783
- Car theft - 2,883
The amount of total thefts were lower overall in 2017 compared to 2018. While there was less larceny and car theft cases, there were more robbery and burglary cases in 2017:
- Robbery - 1,100
- Burglary - 2,888
- Larceny - 9,077
- Car theft - 2,718
When looking at the previous five years, the 2018 spike in crime is even smaller compared to the nearly 10 percent increase the city saw between 2014 and 2015.
Sacramento Police Officer Marcus Vasquez explained the four types of theft as:
- Robbery: This is the only type of theft that is considered a violent crime; the rest are considered property crimes. This is when a person steals from another person using force or the threat of force.
- Burglary: Whenever someone steals something from inside another person's property.
- Larceny: This type of theft includes all forms of petty theft and grand theft. This includes when someone steals a bike from the street, an item from a store or a package from a house.
- Car theft: In police records, this kind of theft is referred to as motor-vehicle theft. This is only when a thief steals a person's car. If a person steals items from the car, then that type of theft would be burglary.
Vasquez also shared several tips that could help prevent people from being victims of theft:
1. Don't advertise your valuables
Whether they're in your home or your car, do not keep your valuable items near windows or easily visible from the window.
2. Consider buying a camera system
Vasquez added that camera systems can really make a difference by not only helping deter, but also solve crimes. He said if you purchase a camera for your home, consider keeping it at either eye-level to help deter crime or at a birds-eye-view to assist police by giving them more perspective if a crime happens.
3. Lock your car
This one may seem simple, but Vasquez says it happens more often than people realize. Leaving your doors unlocked helps make it easy for thieves to steal.
"You'd be surprised with how many people don't lock their cars," Vasquez said.
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