Crime in The Bay Area

Many local bay area residents are scared in regards to the rising crime rates. From car break-ins in San Francisco to armed robberies in Walnut Creek, things are only getting worse. A few local bay area residents are able to give input on their experience with crime and how they are having to change their lifestyles because of it.
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By Francesca Caronna
American Journalism Student

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It is not a shock to most that crime in the Bay Area has increased in recent years, making residents move out of certain areas and overall be more cautious. From car break-ins in San Francisco and Oakland, to muggings in Walnut Creek, it has gotten out of hand. Some Bay Area locals have strong feelings about the crime at hand and are uneasy about the level it has increased. 

Bay area native, Radha Rai grew up in Berkeley but recently her family moved to Danville, which is a suburb more inland. Rai stated “My family decided to make the move to the suburbs because Berkeley started to get a little too dodgy for our liking.” This seems to be a common experience for residents of Berkeley, Oakland and even San Francisco, where individuals and families are relocating to areas with less crime. 

Oakland and San Francisco are notorious for auto theft and car break-ins, in fact residents are so used to this criminal behavior, they often watch it happen and sometimes video record it. However, according to a local news station, it is often not reported to the police (KTVU2 News). Senior resident of Orinda, John Caronna, was recently getting dim sum from his favorite restaurant in Oakland where he unfortunately experienced a taste of the increased crime rates. Caronna said “I was literally out of my car for two minutes when it got broken into. I heard people yelling that someone’s car window was getting smashed and I turned around and it was my car.” This is a harsh reality that Bay Area residents are experiencing, and as Caronna stated “I just never thought it would happen to me.” 

The rising crime rates are not just on the other side of the Caldecott Tunnel, according to KRON 4, it is happening in Lafayette and Walnut Creek as well. There have been reports of muggings and robberies occurring in downtown Walnut Creek, where perpetrators are targeting individuals that are specifically wearing Rolex watches and other luxury jewelry. It has gotten to the point where residents are having to take preemptive measures. Local resident, Stephanie Caronna, frequents walnut creek often and she explained “I take my watch off and avoid wearing nice jewelry or carrying any obvious name-brand bags when I go to Walnut Creek now.” The lengths people are being forced to go in order to not become a target is the harsh reality of the world we live in right now. 
    
Crime like car break-ins, auto theft, and muggings are happening more often and bay area residents are scared. They are having to change their lifestyles, the accessories they wear, and their residence due to the rising crime rates. Many residents find themselves not going to certain restaurants or stores as often because they are known as crime hotspots.

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