TRUST ▪ CARE ▪ COMMITMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
Memorandum
To: Tom Kisela, City Manager
From: Dan Adams, Chief of Police
Date: March 3, 2025
Re: 2024 Crime Report
__________________________________________________________________________________ There was a 10% decrease in crime from 2023 to 2024. The following is a summary of Crimes Against Persons and Crimes Against Property for 2024 in comparison to 2023 (January 1st through December 31st).
2024 Crimes Against Persons Offenses
HOMICIDE – Homicides decreased 40% from 5 in 2023 to 3 in 2024.
o All three homicides involved vehicular manslaughter.
Two incidents involved a suspect who was driving under the influence. The suspects were arrested in both incidents.
One incident involved a suspect who drove recklessly on a motorcycle, killing his passenger.
The investigation is ongoing.
SEXUAL ASSAULT – Sexual assaults decreased 11% from 9 in 2023 to 8 in 2024. o One incident occurred after the victim met the suspect online and agreed to meet at a hotel. The suspect was arrested and the case was sent to the District Attorney. o One incident occurred during the commission of a robbery at a massage parlor. The suspect was tied to other similar robberies in the county and subsequently arrested by ATF. o One incident occurred after the victim met the suspect and another individual and agreed to go to a motel. The case is pending with the District Attorney. o Five of the incidents involved a suspect known to the victim (friend, boyfriend, and family member).
In one incident, the case was sent to the District Attorney and rejected for lack of sufficient evidence.
In one incident, the suspect was arrested, and the case is still pending with the District Attorney.
*Negligent manslaughter including DUI and reckless driving are included per NIBRS.
In two incidents, the victims did not desire prosecution. One incident is still under investigation and will be sent to the District Attorney for review. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – Aggravated assaults decreased slightly by 0.5% from 206 in 2023 to 205 in 2024.
o 43 aggravated assaults involved brandishing a weapon. o 58 aggravated assaults involved domestic violence.
o 12 aggravated assaults involved family members.
o 6 aggravated assaults involved child abuse/endangerment/elder abuse. o 7 aggravated assaults were gang related.
o 1 involved a knife.
o 6 involved a firearm.
o 4 aggravated assaults involved road rage.
o 4 aggravated assaults involved the use of a vehicle as the weapon. o 9 aggravated assaults were committed against police officers/medical personnel. o 4 aggravated assaults were related to bars.
o 15 aggravated assaults involved incidents between roommates, friends, acquaintances, co- workers, neighbor, and landlord.
o 36 aggravated assaults involved suspects not known to victims. o 7 aggravated assaults involved the discharge of a firearm which were not gang related. Suspects were arrested in 84% of aggravated assaults. 21 of them were transients.
2024 Crimes Against Property Offenses
ROBBERY – Robberies increased by 19% from 97 in 2023 to 115 in 2024.
o 22 out of the 115 robberies occurred at The Outlets.
18 of The Outlet robberies were “Estes” robberies where the suspect(s) stole an item(s) from a commercial store and threatened force or used force when confronted by an employee. The force ranged from verbal threats, threat of a simulated weapon, brandishing a knife, brandishing a taser, brandishing a firearm, and physical assaults including pushing/punching/etc.
3 of The Outlet robberies involved groups of juvenile suspects. 1 of The Outlet robberies involved a suspect who punched the victim and stole his phone. o 27 of the 115 robberies were street robberies.
o 1 incident was a home invasion robbery.
o 2 incidents were carjackings.
o 13 incidents were robberies of commercial establishments (gas stations, businesses, bank). o 9 incidents were related to domestic violence.
o 2 incidents occurred as the result of an online arrangement to meet and purchase an item. o 2 incidents occurred as the result of an online arrangement through a dating app. o 7 incidents involved family members/acquaintances/friends. o 30 incidents were Estes robberies that did not occur at The Outlets. Suspects were arrested in 72 robbery reports. 11 of them were transients. *Robbery is now categorized under crimes against property, per NIBRS.
COMMERCIAL BURGLARY – Commercial burglaries decreased by 36% from 364 in 2023 to 234 in 2024.
o There were 66 reported storage burglaries, 14 of which the report was generated online. o 168 commercial burglaries occurred at a variety of commercial establishments such as restaurants, retail/jewelry/department stores, gas stations, pharmacies, schools, medical clinics/hospitals, and other commercial buildings.
27 suspects were arrested for commercial burglary cases. 8 of them were transients. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY – Residential burglaries decreased by 27% from 170 in 2023 to 125 in 2024.
o 30 of the 125 residential burglaries backed up to a greenbelt, horse trail, hillside, or freeway access in which the suspects appeared to utilize. The typical method of operation is to enter the second story rear slider or window.
o Residential burglary crews from South America have been targeting cities across Orange County and all of Southern California. Their typical method of operation is to use rental cars to surveil neighborhoods and break into residences that appear unoccupied and often back up to a greenbelt or open land.
o There were 50 garage burglaries.
13 suspects were arrested for residential burglary cases. 6 of them were transients. THEFT FROM VEHICLE – Thefts from vehicles decreased by 12% from 504 in 2023 to 443 in 2024.
o Top locations of thefts include: The Outlets and surrounding areas (25), 850/1000/1055/1110/1235 W. Town and Country (28), and 3063/3099 W. Chapman (17). Suspects were arrested in 8 of the thefts from vehicles. None of them were transients. STOLEN VEHICLE – Stolen vehicles increased by 1% from 376 in 2023 to 378 in 2024. o Most common vehicles stolen: Chevrolet (97), Ford (40) and Toyotas (36). o The Outlets and surrounding area had 18 stolen vehicles. o The other common theft locations are Gateway Apartments parking structure (10) and Town and Country parking structures (8).
Suspects were arrested in 34 stolen vehicle reports. 2 of them were transients. LARCENY – Larcenies decreased by 6% from 1198 in 2023 to 1128 in 2024. o 480 of the 1128 larcenies involved shoplifting.
243 of the 480 shopliftings occurred at The Outlets.
o 183 of the 1128 larcenies were theft of motor vehicle parts. 99 were stolen plate reports.
45 were catalytic converter thefts.
22 were tailgate thefts. Tailgate thefts saw an increase in 2024 all across Orange County, specifically targeting Toyota Tacomas.
17 involved the theft of other motor vehicle parts (tires, registration tabs, lights, bumpers, and a battery).
Suspects were arrested in 330 larcenies. 49 of them were transients.