Annual data shows significant drop in quality-of-life crime reports; 2025 Community Beat meetings scheduled
2024 brought significant reductions to crime reports in several key areas. According to data recently released by the Alameda Police Department (APD), vehicle theft reports have dropped dramatically since the end of 2023 and have stayed down. In December 2023, 135 vehicles were reported stolen; in December 2024, there were at least 62% fewer reports for the month. Over the entire year, the city saw a nearly 25% reduction in the number of reported stolen vehicles compared with the previous year.
APD statistics showed significant improvement in other areas in 2024 as well, most notably in theft and property crimes. Fraud offenses dropped by over 44%, while burglaries, embezzlement, and extortion reports decreased by a third or more. There were also approximately 25% fewer reports of robberies and vandalism over the previous year. Stolen property offenses were also down slightly, with a little more than 5% fewer than in 2023.
However, there were increases in some crime reports as compared with the previous year. The most significant increase was for drug and narcotic offenses, which jumped more than 35% to a total of 238 reports in 2024. Reports of arson, animal cruelty, counterfeiting, kidnapping, driving under the influence, and nonviolent family offenses also climbed noticeably. And officers took reports of two homicides this past year, after just one in 2023.
With the change in reporting we referenced last month, the department no longer provides details on arrests, including which involved juvenile or adult offenders, and which were felonies or misdemeanors and other infractions. Additionally, many Group B crime reporting data were combined into one category called “All other offenses,” which jumped 29% to 598 reports for 2024. What those offenses comprise is not clearly defined by the reporting.
Overall, Group A reports, which include the most serious crimes, dropped by 13.5%, and Group B reports increased by nearly 19% from 2023 to 2024. However, because many more categories of crimes fall under Group A, Alameda’s total crime reports were down from the previous year by nearly 9%.
| Dec. 23 | Jul. 24 | Aug. 24 | Sep. 24 | Oct. 24 | Nov. 24 | Dec. 24 | Change Nov. – Dec. | Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrests | 68 | 89 | 80 | 86 | 87 | 119 | 98 | -21 | -17.65% |
| Collisions | 65 | 59 | 75 | 64 | 80 | 64 | 59 | -5 | -7.81% |
| Auto Thefts | 135 | 106 | 60 | 56 | 53 | 52 | 51 | -1 | -1.92% |
| Recovered Stolen Vehicles | 112 | 93 | 82 | 49 | 68 | 58 | 45 | -13 | -22.41% |
| Robberies | 7 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 5 | -1 | -16.67% |
| Catalytic Converter Thefts | 6 | 22 | 12 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 66.67% |
| Assaults | 10 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 55.56% |
| Calls for Service | 5,273 | 6,224 | 6,025 | 5,975 | 5,923 | 4,987 | 5,530 | 543 | 10.89% |
| Reports Taken | 774 | 702 | 625 | 616 | 643 | 609 | 650 | 41 | 6.73% |
December 2024 statistics
December 2024 monthly statistics show numbers similar to November 2024. Outliers include arrests, which were down just over 17%, and recovered stolen vehicles, with 13 fewer vehicles recovered, for a total of 45. Catalytic converter theft reports were up by six from the previous month, and assaults climbed from nine in November to 14 in December.
On Alameda streets, APD officers issued 77 traffic citations and 101 warnings during the month. Traffic data was not released for November 2024; however, in October, APD officers issued 133 traffic citations and 98 warnings. There were 15 DUI arrests in December, up from nine in November. And Alameda drivers were involved in 59 collisions in December, five fewer than the previous month.
The following incidents represent a selection of the police activity that took place in December 2024:
Burglary: On December 2, shortly after 5 a.m., APD officers were called to the 2100 block of Main Street for the report of an in-progress burglary. An individual had entered a residence through an unsecured window and taken multiple items. When officers checked the area, the suspect was located and arrested, and the items were returned to the homeowner.
Driving under the influence: Just before 5 a.m. on December 3, an officer observed a vehicle with multiple occupants traveling on the wrong side of the road on Lincoln Avenue. When the officers stopped the vehicle, they observed alcohol in the vehicle. After performing a series of field sobriety tests, the driver was arrested for DUI and driving without a license.
Vehicle theft: A vehicle was reported stolen from the 400 block of Diller Street on the morning of December 9. The owner of the vehicle briefly left it unoccupied and running, at which point it was stolen. The next day, with the notification from an automated license plate reader, APD located the vehicle in the 1600 block of Pacific Avenue. The person driving the stolen vehicle attempted to flee on foot but was soon found and arrested. Officers found bundles of copper wiring and burglary tools when they searched the vehicle. The vehicle was returned to the owner.
Vandalism: Shortly after 8 a.m. on December 13, officers were called to Encinal High School for a report of vandalism. During the early morning hours an individual spray-painted derogatory language on the property. The individual was identified and arrested.
Shoplifting: APD officers were called to the South Shore Shopping Center on December 15 at 11:35 a.m. for a report of an in-progress theft. An individual entered a business, took merchandise, and left without paying for the items. APD officers investigated, located and arrested the individual, and the items were returned to the store.
Commercial burglary: On December 30 at 4:45 am, officers were again called to the South Shore Shopping Center to investigate a burglary that occurred a few moments prior. During that incident, multiple suspects forcibly entered a business and removed merchandise from display cases. Officers collected evidence and video footage from the scene but were unable to locate any of the suspects when they searched the area. The investigation remains ongoing.
A complete monthly summary of Alameda Police data can be found online at the Alameda Crime Activity page.
2025 Beat Meetings
APD has announced their schedule for Beat Meetings for the coming year. Residents and businesses within each of the two Beats included in the meeting are encouraged to join the Alameda Police Department on the dates listed. These meetings are intended to create direct lines of communication between residents and the APD officers and lieutenants who directly serve that beat. Community members will learn more about activities in their neighborhoods and have the opportunity to collaboratively address public safety matters. Meetings are held twice per year for each Beat, six months apart. Find your neighborhood Beat on the map.
Beat 11 & Beat 12
Thursday, March 13, 5- 6 p.m.
2550 Monarch Street
Building 2, Wing 8
Thursday, September 11, 5- 6 p.m.
2550 Monarch Street
Building 2, Wing 8
Beat 13 & Beat 14
Tuesday, March 11, 5- 6 p.m.
West End Library
788 Santa Clara Avenue
Tuesday, September 9, 5- 6 p.m.
West End Library
788 Santa Clara Avenue
Beat 21 & Beat 22
Tuesday, March 11, 5- 6 p.m.
Mastick Senior Center, Room D
1155 Santa Clara Avenue
Tuesday, September 9, 5- 6 p.m.
Mastick Senior Center, Room D
1155 Santa Clara Avenue
Beat 23 & Beat 24
Tuesday, April 8, 5- 6 p.m.
Main Library, Stafford Room
1550 Oak Street
Tuesday, October 14, 5- 6 p.m.
Main Library, Stafford Room
1550 Oak Street
Beat 31 & Beat 32
Saturday, March 22, 11 a.m. – noon
Main Library, Stafford Room
1550 Oak Street
Saturday, November 1, 11 a.m. – noon
Main Library, Stafford Room
1550 Oak Street
Beat 33 & Beat 34
Saturday, March 22, 1-2 p.m.
Bay Farm Island Community Center
3195 Mecartney Road
Saturday, November 8, 11 a.m. – noon
Bay Farm Island Community Center
3195 Mecartney Road
Adam Gillitt is the Publisher of the Alameda Post. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Adam-Gillitt.
