FBI Crime Report 2020: See Trends In Concord

CONCORD, CA — Crime was down overall last year in the city of Concord and in Contra Costa County, according to data released by the FBI in its 2020 uniform crime report.

In California, the FBI estimated crime statistics based on reports from 732 of the state’s 740 law enforcement agencies, including the Concord Police Department and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.

The FBI has issued a caution about the crime data coming in at the local levels, however.

Lists comparing cities and counties "provide no insight into the numerous variables that shape crime in a given state, county, city, town, tribal area or region," the FBI said in a statement.

“Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents,” the statement continued. “Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction.”

The data shows violent crimes were slightly down in California, from 442.1 crimes per 100,000 people in 2019 to 442 crimes per 100,000 people in 2020.

Property crimes were down 8.4 percent during the same period, from 2,335.8 crimes per 100,000 people in 2019 to 2,138.9 crimes per 100,000 in 2020.

Violent crimes are labeled as homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property crimes are listed as arson, burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft.

The Concord Police Department saw a 21.8 percent decrease last year in violent crimes, from 541 reported in 2019 to 423 in 2020; and a 17 percent decrease in property crimes, from 4,560 reported in 2019 to 3,783 in 2020, the data show.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office saw a 10.2 percent decrease last year in violent crimes, from 332 reported in 2019 to 298 in 2020; and a 21.4 percent decrease in property crimes, from 1,499 reported in 2019 to 1,178 reported in 2020.

Nationwide, the FBI reported an increase in violent crime for the first time in four years. The number of property crimes reported nationally dropped for the 18th year in a row.

Violent crime was up 5.2 percent in 2020 from the 2019 number, the FBI said in a news release.

Among violent crimes, murder and non-negligent manslaughter reports saw the sharpest one-year uptick from 2019 to 2020, at 29.4 percent, the FBI said.

Property crimes dropped 8.1 percent from 2019 to 2020, the FBI data shows.