San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced a 20-year low crime record for 2024 on Tuesday, a day before her successor was scheduled to take office. This includes historic declines in car break-ins and homicides.
Breed’s office released a press statement announcing the sharp decline in crime, citing 2024 figures that showed “numbers not seen in over 20 years.” San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott and Breed made the news, claiming that “the city made historic gains” that included “a 60-year low in homicides and a record decrease in car break-ins.”
According to the new data, violent crime decreased 14% from 2023 and 26% from 2017, bringing San Francisco’s overall crime rate to its lowest level since 2001. When compared to those two years, the property crime rate decreased even more, falling 31% from the previous year and 46% from 2017.
In 2024, San Francisco had 30,991 property crimes and 4,739 violent crimes.
According to city officials, San Francisco saw just 35 homicides in 2024—a 60-year low and a 35% decrease from 2023. The study also noted a significant decline in auto break-ins, which decreased 54% year over year between 2023 and 2024 and saw fewer than 10,000 occurrences for the first time in almost 15 years.
Increased cooperation with the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office and the SF District Attorney’s Office, the deployment of new technology, such as drones and mobile security cameras, and a determined effort to crack down on open-air drug markets in areas of the Civic Center and the Tenderloin were cited in the announcement as reasons for the crime decline.
“I’m grateful for the hard work by our law enforcement partners and everyone in the community working tirelessly to make our neighborhoods safer,” the press release cited Mayor Breed as saying. “This demonstrates that our officers can produce amazing results when we provide them with the resources and assistance they need, such as new technology. It also demonstrates how we have achieved previously unheard-of levels of coordination amongst our Police Chief Bill Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Sheriff Miyamoto, and state and federal allies. Let’s continue to assist our law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and sheriff’s deputies in their daily efforts to make San Francisco a safer place.
During the mayoral campaign, San Francisco’s public safety and crime were key concerns. Critics pointed to high-profile events such as the shooting of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall in Union Square and burglaries that targeted upscale stores in the area.
Breed lost to Lurie in the November election because of the persistent belief that San Francisco is a violent city, even though he made an effort throughout the campaign to emphasize the decline in crime over the previous year.
On Wednesday, Lurie will take the oath of office as mayor of San Francisco.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.