Crime in Rancho Bernardo rose during 2015
Rancho Bernardo appears to have experienced increases in all types of crime — most notably property crimes and car prowls — in 2015 compared to 2014, a pattern that reflected a citywide increase in crime.
Property crimes rose by 133 incidents, going from 339 in 2014 to 472 last year. The largest increase was thefts, which rose from 186 in 2014 to 303 in 2015. Also on the rise were auto thefts (76 last year versus 58 in 2014) and residential burglaries (68 in 2015 compared to 47 the year before). The only decline was in commercial burglaries, which went from 48 in 2014 to 25 last year. This pattern of increases and commercial burglary decrease mirrored what happened citywide.
Due to the additional crimes, Rancho Bernardo’s property crime ranking went from 13th place citywide among San Diego’s 125 areas in 2014 to 27th place in 2015. Its crimes per 1,000 residents rate increased from 8.17 per 1,000 in 2014 to 11.31 per 1,000 in 2015. The citywide rate was 21.66 property crimes per 1,000 San Diegans in 2015. The year before it was 20.29 per 1,000.
It appears violent crimes significantly rose as well. However, due to a FBI mandated change in the definition of rape for the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, officials said there can be no comparison of crime statistics for 2015 to previous years in the categories of rape, aggravated assaults, violent crime total and crime index total (violent and property crimes combined), since all four categories have been impacted.
According to the Automated Regional Justice Information System website, “The new definition of rape has been broadened to include male victims, sodomy, penetration with any body part or objects, and no longer requires force.” The new definition — posted under the “help” tab at crimestats.arjis.org — went into effect on Jan. 1, 2015.
This year, under the new guidelines, there were 42 violent crimes reported in Rancho Bernardo. They were seven rapes, nine robberies and 26 aggravated assaults. Rancho Bernardo ranked 11th among the city’s 125 areas, with a rate of 1.01 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. The city’s rate was 4.14 violent crimes per 1,000 San Diegans.
In 2014, under the old guidelines, there were 27 violent crimes reported. They were two rapes, six robberies and 19 aggravated assaults. The violent crime rate was 0.65 crimes per 1,000 residents and it ranked 10th citywide. The city’s rate was 3.95 violent crimes per 1,000 San Diegans.
The crime index combines violent and property crimes. Under the new guidelines, last year Rancho Bernardo had 514 crimes and came in 19th among the 125 areas, with a rate of 12.31 crimes per 1,000 residents. The citywide rate was 25.80 crimes per 1,000 San Diegans.
In 2014, under the old guidelines, Rancho Bernardo had 366 crimes and was 13th citywide, with a crime rate of 8.82 crimes per 1,000 residents. The citywide rate was 24.24 crimes per 1,000 San Diegans.
Car prowls — where property might not have been taken — rose in 2015. These are not included in the crime index. There were 180 reported last year, compared to 108 in 2014. Rancho Bernardo tied with Colina del Sol for 53rd place among the city’s 125 areas last year, with a car prowl rate of 4.31 incidents per 1,000 residents. The citywide rate was 5.23 car prowls per 1,000 San Diegans. In 2014, Rancho Bernardo was in 34th place, with a rate of 2.60 car prowls per 1,000 residents. The citywide rate for 2014 was 4.90 car prowls per 1,000 San Diegans.
To see the crime statistics for other City of San Diego neighborhoods, go to tinyurl.com/SDcrimes.