Violent crime in Oakland is way down for the second year in a row

"Violent crime is plummeting in Oakland, according to preliminary police data. As of late November, 2025 will be the second consecutive year that Oakland has logged big declines in shootings, robberies, and homicides. In fact, violent and property crimes citywide have fallen by double-digit percentage points so far. (The Oaklandside will explore why crime is falling early next year, once the final crime statistics for 2025 become available.)"

"The numbers aren't final, and Oakland isn't in the clear, as the city still experiences more crime than other mid-sized U.S. cities, according to a report from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute earlier this year. But as of November, homicides in Oakland are down 21% compared with the same period last year, with 59 homicides logged versus 75 in 2024, according to OPD's most recent weekly crime report. Over the same roughly 11 months in 2023, the city reported 114 homicides."

"Other types of violent crime are also trending down. Robberies are down 42% since last year, rapes have fallen by 22%, and aggravated assaults have dropped by 11%. Of note, since 2015, OPD has recorded over 2,000 robberies each year. But as 2025 draws to a close, Oakland has logged fewer than 1,600 robberies so far this year. Overall, the city's violent crime index - which encompasses homicides, assaults, rapes, and robberies - shows a 25% drop year to date."

Preliminary police data show large declines in violent and property crimes across Oakland in 2025, marking a second consecutive year of decreases. Homicides are down 21% year to date, with 59 recorded versus 75 in 2024 and 114 in roughly the same period of 2023. Robberies have fallen about 42%, rapes 22%, and aggravated assaults 11%, with fewer than 1,600 robberies logged so far compared with annual counts above 2,000 since 2015. The combined violent-crime index (homicides, assaults, rapes, robberies) is down 25% year to date. Firearm assaults decreased 27% year to date per OPD gunfire reports. Experts report no evidence of increased underreporting.

Read at The Oaklandside