Benicia is one of the 100 safest cities in California, according to a ranking by the National Council for Home Safety and Security.
The Council, a national trade association made up of licensed alarm installers and contractors, released lists of the safest cities in each state through its website at Alarms.org. According to the authors of the list, California ranks in the upper 25 percent of states in violent crime and in the middle regarding property crime. However, they note that California has some very safe communities as well.
“The Golden State not only has a spectacular variety of ecosystems and geographical features, but a great diversity in communities, as well,” the authors wrote. “You can find every type in California, from high crime urban landscapes, to secluded affluent beach communities, dusty small towns, and ordinary middle class suburbs. The State’s town-by-town crime data reflects this diversity; along with some of the more risky neighborhoods in the U.S. you will also find some of the safest.”
To conduct the ranking of the safest cities in California, the Council pulled information from the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report, which was conducted in 2016. Cities with populations under 10,000 were excluded, as were municipalities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI. The remaining cities were ranked on the number of reported violent and property crimes per 1,000 people. Violent crimes included such offenses as aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery. Property crimes included burglary, arson, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft. The variables were weighted, with violent crimes making up 1.5 of the total, as opposed to property crimes.
Benicia clocked in at No. 83. The town was listed as having a population of 28,400 with 19 violent crimes and 540 property crimes in 2016. This amounted to 0.67 violent crimes and 19.01 property crimes per 1,000 people. Benicia was the only town in Solano County to rank in the top 100. The next Solano city on the list is Dixon, which ranked at 126, followed by Vacaville at 134, Suisun City at 160, Fairfield at 227 and Vallejo at 342. Rio Vista, having a population of less than 10,000, did not make the list.
The top five safest cities in California, according to the list, are Imperial, Rancho Santa Margarita, Danville, Palos Verdes Estates and Orinda. For the complete list, go to alarms.org/safest-cities-in-california-2018/.
Gianni Appleweed says
This is a magnetic factor when cannabusiness interests look to Benicia. We have to keep PD staffing wherever it needs to be to sustain this condition. The danger is coming from the outside, not regulated cannabis inside. I keep a tab for the Daily Activity Report from the PD. A lot of visitors get arrested. The report also cites “suspicious” person/activity calls. We are the extended eyes of the PD. When you suspect something is not right, use the non-emergency number, 745-3412 unless it is one.