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Crime rate in Santa Cruz, California (CA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map


City-Data.com crime index in Santa Cruz, CA compared to other U.S. cities

Crime rate in Santa Cruz, CA

The 2020 crime rate in Santa Cruz, CA is 307 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.2 times greater than the U.S. average. It was higher than in 88.3% U.S. cities. The 2020 Santa Cruz crime rate fell by 17% compared to 2019. In the last 5 years Santa Cruz has seen decline of violent crime and decreasing property crime.
See how dangerous Santa Cruz, CA is compared to the nearest cities:
(Note: Higher means more crime)
Santa Cruz:

306.9
Capitola:

255.9
Scotts Valley:

154.0
Watsonville:

277.5
Monte Sereno:

46.5
Los Gatos:

91.9
Saratoga:

61.2
Campbell:

246.0
Morgan Hill:

130.0
City-Data.com crime index
Crime rates in Santa Cruz by year

Type

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Murders
(per 100,000)
1
(1.8)
2
(3.6)
4
(7.1)
6
(10.0)
1
(1.6)
3
(4.9)
4
(6.4)
1
(1.6)
2
(3.1)
4
(6.2)
1
(1.5)
1
(1.5)
0
(0.0)
2
(3.1)
Rapes
(per 100,000)
28
(51.3)
19
(34.4)
36
(64.1)
31
(51.7)
23
(37.9)
34
(55.8)
33
(52.8)
63
(99.3)
44
(68.7)
45
(69.3)
57
(87.5)
34
(51.8)
29
(44.4)
33
(50.7)
Robberies
(per 100,000)
117
(214.2)
112
(202.7)
91
(162.1)
120
(200.2)
113
(186.3)
83
(136.3)
85
(136.0)
109
(171.8)
116
(181.0)
106
(163.2)
103
(158.1)
66
(100.5)
88
(134.8)
76
(116.8)
Assaults
(per 100,000)
335
(613.3)
313
(566.5)
322
(573.4)
396
(660.6)
343
(565.5)
313
(513.9)
285
(455.9)
351
(553.3)
337
(525.9)
366
(563.3)
248
(380.8)
289
(440.0)
272
(416.8)
198
(304.3)
Burglaries
(per 100,000)
410
(750.6)
412
(745.6)
466
(829.8)
495
(825.7)
568
(936.5)
527
(865.3)
552
(883.0)
420
(662.0)
431
(672.6)
354
(544.9)
412
(632.6)
336
(511.6)
348
(533.2)
267
(410.3)
Thefts
(per 100,000)
1,847
(3,381)
1,534
(2,776)
2,467
(4,393)
2,262
(3,773)
2,603
(4,292)
2,794
(4,588)
2,383
(3,812)
2,602
(4,102)
2,831
(4,418)
2,874
(4,424)
2,911
(4,469)
2,308
(3,514)
2,363
(3,621)
1,734
(2,665)
Auto thefts
(per 100,000)
175
(320.4)
145
(262.4)
183
(325.9)
179
(298.6)
185
(305.0)
264
(433.5)
228
(364.7)
248
(390.9)
299
(466.6)
382
(588.0)
361
(554.3)
261
(397.4)
221
(338.6)
236
(362.7)
Arson
(per 100,000)
33
(60.4)
24
(43.4)
23
(41.0)
20
(33.4)
12
(19.8)
21
(34.5)
21
(33.6)
24
(37.8)
25
(39.0)
11
(16.9)
30
(46.1)
53
(80.7)
34
(52.1)
45
(69.2)
City-Data.com crime index445.0393.1488.7486.2464.3476.9430.4486.5481.8491.5464.1370.8368.6306.9

The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 254.8. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities.

- means the value is smaller than the state average.
- means the value is about the same as the state average.
- means the value is bigger than the state average.
- means the value is much bigger than the state average.



According to our research of California and other state lists, there were 118 registered sex offenders living in Santa Cruz, California as of March 19, 2024.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Santa Cruz is 544 to 1.


When are crimes committed in Santa Cruz, CA?

Violent crime rate in 2020
Santa Cruz:

267.4
U.S. Average:

228.3

Violent crime rate in 2019
Santa Cruz:

320.2
U.S. Average:

219.8

Violent crime rate in 2018
Santa Cruz:

325.1
U.S. Average:

221.2

Violent crime rate in 2017
Santa Cruz:

360.0
U.S. Average:

226.3

Violent crime rate in 2016
Santa Cruz:

444.8
U.S. Average:

227.3

Violent crime rate in 2015
Santa Cruz:

428.4
U.S. Average:

219.4

Violent crime rate in 2014
Santa Cruz:

465.0
U.S. Average:

211.1

Violent crime rate in 2013
Santa Cruz:

361.5
U.S. Average:

214.3

Violent crime rate in 2012
Santa Cruz:

390.8
U.S. Average:

187.4

Violent crime rate in 2011
Santa Cruz:

417.1
U.S. Average:

187.1

Violent crime rate in 2010
Santa Cruz:

502.1
U.S. Average:

195.6

Violent crime rate in 2009
Santa Cruz:

446.1
U.S. Average:

208.9

Violent crime rate in 2008
Santa Cruz:

426.2
U.S. Average:

222.5

Violent crime rate in 2007
Santa Cruz:

468.6
U.S. Average:

229.1

Violent crime rate in 2006
Santa Cruz:

403.6
U.S. Average:

232.6

Violent crime rate in 2005
Santa Cruz:

383.9
U.S. Average:

227.1

Violent crime rate in 2004
Santa Cruz:

377.6
U.S. Average:

223.6

Violent crime rate in 2003
Santa Cruz:

393.4
U.S. Average:

230.3

Property crime rate in 2020
Santa Cruz:

269.7
U.S. Average:

169.6

Property crime rate in 2019
Santa Cruz:

338.5
U.S. Average:

179.7

Property crime rate in 2018
Santa Cruz:

337.6
U.S. Average:

190.2

Property crime rate in 2017
Santa Cruz:

433.1
U.S. Average:

206.4

Property crime rate in 2016
Santa Cruz:

418.4
U.S. Average:

216.6

Property crime rate in 2015
Santa Cruz:

425.4
U.S. Average:

221.5

Property crime rate in 2014
Santa Cruz:

396.1
U.S. Average:

230.8

Property crime rate in 2013
Santa Cruz:

421.9
U.S. Average:

250.4

Property crime rate in 2012
Santa Cruz:

467.5
U.S. Average:

267.3

Property crime rate in 2011
Santa Cruz:

447.6
U.S. Average:

273.5

Property crime rate in 2010
Santa Cruz:

398.6
U.S. Average:

276.4

Property crime rate in 2009
Santa Cruz:

434.5
U.S. Average:

285.6

Property crime rate in 2008
Santa Cruz:

327.3
U.S. Average:

302.2

Property crime rate in 2007
Santa Cruz:

367.2
U.S. Average:

309.2

Property crime rate in 2006
Santa Cruz:

480.2
U.S. Average:

317.3

Property crime rate in 2005
Santa Cruz:

368.2
U.S. Average:

322.3

Property crime rate in 2004
Santa Cruz:

339.3
U.S. Average:

327.4

Property crime rate in 2003
Santa Cruz:

348.3
U.S. Average:

334.1
Murders per 100,000 population
Rapes per 100,000 population
Robberies per 100,000 population
Assaults per 100,000 population
Burglaries per 100,000 population
Thefts per 100,000 population
Auto thefts per 100,000 population
Arson per 100,000 population

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2021, including police officers: 110 (75 officers - 67 male; 8 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.16
California average:

2.30

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2020, including police officers: 115 (83 officers - 75 male; 8 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.28
California average:

2.02

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2019, including police officers: 122 (81 officers - 72 male; 9 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.24
California average:

2.01

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2018, including police officers: 123 (93 officers - 83 male; 10 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.42
California average:

2.01

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2017, including police officers: 117 (90 officers - 78 male; 12 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.38
California average:

2.32

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2016, including police officers: 115 (93 officers - 82 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.43
California average:

2.32

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2015, including police officers: 111 (91 officers - 80 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.42
California average:

1.98

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2014, including police officers: 110 (92 officers - 80 male; 12 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.45
California average:

2.00

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2013, including police officers: 109 (88 officers - 81 male; 7 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.41
California average:

2.34

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2012, including police officers: 110 (89 officers - 81 male; 8 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.46
California average:

2.36

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2011, including police officers: 108 (87 officers - 80 male; 7 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.43
California average:

2.09

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2010, including police officers: 109 (88 officers - 80 male; 8 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.47
California average:

2.46

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2009, including police officers: 113 (91 officers - 82 male; 9 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.62
California average:

2.52

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2008, including police officers: 121 (95 officers - 86 male; 9 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.72
California average:

2.56

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2007, including police officers: 112 (85 officers - 77 male; 8 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.56
California average:

2.48

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2006, including police officers: 115 (88 officers - 77 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.59
California average:

2.38

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2005, including police officers: 118 (90 officers - 79 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.65
California average:

2.34

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2004, including police officers: 122 (94 officers - 83 male; 11 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.71
California average:

2.36

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2003, including police officers: 125 (92 officers - 82 male; 10 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.69
California average:

2.42

Full-time Law Enforcement Employees in Santa Cruz, CA
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Officers
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Civilians

Zip codes: 95064.