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Chico Violent Crime Rising As Property Crimes Plummet

Marc Albert

Stretched to the limit by a population that has surged by a third since November’s Camp Fire, Chico officials meeting Tuesday night discussed both short and longer term solutions.  

 

Addressing crime trends, Police Chief Mike O’Brien found little definitive correlation between the Camp Fire and crime, despite an increase of 30,000 residents during its immediate aftermath. O’Brien said the volume of calls received by 911 dispatchers is up, rising to a rate of about 75 calls an hour. 

 

 

Locally, crime stats are going in opposite directions. Reported property crimes dropped 28 percent in 2018 compared to 2017, while violent crimes coincidentally, soared 28 percent. 

 

“We saw an increase, and I don’t get too worked up about one year’s worth of statistics, until we have a little bit of a pattern, well, we now have that pattern,” O’Brien said.  

 

O’Brien said the number of robberies vaulted 68 percent, while the number of burglaries tanked by 38 percent. O’Brien said the increase in violent crime was a trend all year and not limited to November and December, following the Fire. He said vehicle accidents since the fire are up 25 percent.  

 

He called for more technology, including enhanced cameras, automated license plate readers and an instantaneous gunshot detection system, such as shotspotter. 

 

In other council action, the council unanimously approved money for the operation of a respite center from extreme heat and cold.