San Francisco has witnessed a significant drop in crime rates in 2025, making it the safest it’s been in decades. The San Francisco Police Department reported a more than 25% decrease in total violent crimes compared to 2024. The total crime count reached 27,321 incidents through the end of the year, down from 36,633 in the same period last year. This decline is one of the steepest reductions recorded historically.
Reduction Across Crime Categories
The fall in crime is noteworthy as it follows an already decreasing trend from the previous year. Mayor Daniel Lurie highlighted the effectiveness of the SFPD at a December press conference, stating, “Violent crime is down to lows not seen since the 1950s.” He added that car break-ins have reached 22-year lows and that overall crime is down by 30%.
- Motor Vehicle Thefts: Decreased by 24% to 3,011 incidents.
- Burglaries: Fell by 12.5% to 3,673 cases.
- Larceny Theft: Declined by 21.8% to 16,492 incidents.
- Robberies: Plummeted by 44.2% to 3,011 incidents.
- Assaults: Increased by 28.6% to 2,046 incidents.
Violent Crime Trends and Statistics
Homicides in San Francisco have been on a downward trend over the past decade, with a 20% reduction in 2025, resulting in 28 homicides compared to 35 in 2024. This figure represents the lowest homicide rate since 1960. In contrast, Oakland, with roughly half the population, recorded 59 homicides during the same year.
Furthermore, shootings in the city decreased by 24% in 2025, totaling 77 incidents, down from 101 the previous year. In total, there were 97 victims of shootings, resulting in 19 fatalities. This crime wave spurred public interest, highlighted by notable gun violence incidents at the start of the year.
Improvements in Crime Resolution
The San Francisco Police Department has also reported improvements in clearance rates for various crime categories. Robbery clearances increased from 23.2% in 2024 to 30.3% in 2025, while motor vehicle theft clearances rose to 9.2%. Assault clearances saw a slight uptick to 41.4% of cases.
| Crime Type | 2024 Clearance Rate | 2025 Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Robbery | 23.2% | 30.3% |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | N/A | 9.2% |
| Assault | N/A | 41.4% |
| Burglary | N/A | 17.2% |
Challenges Amidst Progress
Despite these positive trends, the clearance rate for property crimes, particularly larceny theft, remains low at just 8.7%. This disparity illustrates the gap between reported crimes and effective law enforcement responses. Moreover, auto burglaries continue to outpace arrests, which raises concerns about the overall safety landscape in the city.
As San Francisco navigates these crime trends, experts emphasize that many factors influence crime rates beyond specific administrations or policies. Mike Males from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice points out that crime patterns often follow predictable societal shifts.
Overall, San Francisco’s crime reduction initiatives and the associated statistical improvements reflect a multifaceted approach to public safety. Nevertheless, challenges remain, particularly concerning organized crime targeting affluent areas.
