In the past 15 months, the California state government has joined forces with local law enforcement agencies to crack down on crime, yielding significant results. As of Tuesday, police have arrested 6,700 individuals, recovered 4,842 stolen vehicles, and seized 313 illegal firearms.
Governor Gavin Newsom stated in a release on Tuesday that through collaboration between state, county, and city authorities, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) began deploying in high-crime cities like Bakersfield in the Central Valley, Oakland in Northern California, and San Bernardino in Southern California in 2024 to reduce road violence and criminal activities.
The crime trends after the joint law enforcement effort show a decrease in crime rates in Oakland, a reduction in homicides and gun violence in Bakersfield, and an increase in arrest rates and vehicle recoveries in San Bernardino. From October 2023 to December 2024, 88% of the 373 organized retail theft convictions were for felonies.
San Bernardino has crime rates far above the California average, especially in violent crimes. Since October 2024, CHP has assisted local law enforcement in targeting property theft and violent crimes, including gun violence.
As part of the operation, CHP has deployed special enforcement teams on the ground and in the air, using high-tech video networks to identify vehicle attributes beyond license plate numbers to combat illegal speeding and search for stolen vehicles.
Over the past seven months, law enforcement agencies have arrested 1,311 individuals in the area, with 249 felony offenders; impounded 90 stolen vehicles; and confiscated 34 illegal firearms. The latest data shows a decrease in violent and property crimes in the targeted areas in 2024.
Oakland has consistently ranked as the most dangerous city in California for several years. Data shows an average of 16.85 violent crimes and 60.23 property crimes per 1,000 residents.
Since joint law enforcement began in February 2024, CHP and local police have arrested 2,101 individuals, with 1,504 felonies; recovered 3,578 stolen vehicles, and seized 192 illegal firearms. By the end of 2024, crime rates in Oakland have significantly decreased, with an overall crime reduction of 34%.
These arrest operations include apprehending suspects charged with multiple felonies; arresting individuals in possession of firearms and cocaine; dismantling an organized retail theft ring and recovering over $779,000 worth of stolen goods.
Since April 2024, Bakersfield initiated cooperation with CHP, resulting in the joint arrest of 3,315 individuals, including 680 felony offenders; recovering 1,174 stolen vehicles and seizing 87 firearms. The local government highlighted 2024 as the safest year in recent history, with a 57% decrease in homicides and a 60% decrease in gun-related incidents.
According to statistics from the California-based Safe and Sound Security, Oakland, Emeryville, Commerce, San Bernardino, Stockton, Marysville, Red Bluff, Barstow, Vallejo, and Richmond are the top 10 most dangerous cities in California. The rankings are based on the cities’ rates of violent and property crimes.
In contrast, Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County and Danville in Northern California were named the safest cities in California for 2025.
Last year, Newsom signed bipartisan legislation to combat property crimes, imposing tough new penalties on felony offenders and cracking down on serial shoplifting, retail theft, and car theft.