THERE’S A MYSTERY surrounding Stockton’s crime statistics for the first half of 2025 that might need a little detective work to unravel.
Call it the “Case of the Stubbornly High Rate of Thievery.”
An analysis by Stocktonia of monthly crime statistics in the city shows that robberies tumbled 25.8%, burglaries cratered 45.5% and auto thefts were down 35% compared to the same six-month period last year.
But the number of larcenies and thefts — a major crime category that includes shoplifting and has more reported cases investigated by the Stockton Police Department than any other crime — was basically flat, down a meager 0.62%.
With such a significant drop in other property crimes, inquiring minds might wonder why the rate of larcenies and thefts didn’t also decline more.
Officer David Scott, a Stockton Police Department spokesperson, said theft rates are dropping — they plunged 39.3% between May and June — but the sheer volume of thefts tends to make a big percentage change difficult.
“Our property crime statistics this year show significant progress, but still, work needs to be done,” Scott said, adding that the department is making an effort at reducing thefts in a number of ways.
STOCKTON CRIME STATISTICS, JANUARY-JUNE 2024 2025 Percentage change Homicides 30 19 -36.7% Rape 38 45 +18.4% Aggravated assault 1,229 1,168 -5.0% Robbery 539 400 -25.8% Burglary 1,081 589 -45.5% Larceny/theft 2,258 2,244 -0.62% Auto theft 988 642 -35.0% Arson 71 80 +12.7% Total 6,234 5,187 -16.8% Source: Stockton Police Department
Thefts are also hard to prevent at a time when police resources are spread thin, especially when stopping more violent crimes is a priority.
Still, Stockton police point to a number of initiatives they hope will continue to cut the theft rate:
• Business Watch. In addition to meetings for Neighborhood Watch — the community-based crime-prevention program in which residents work together to improve safety and security — officers also attend the commercial equivalent of that program, called Business Watch. At both meetings, officers provide updates, information and tips on how to work with police, Scott said.
• See Something, Say Something. In March, Police Chief Stanley McFadden highlighted a “See Something, Say Something” campaign to encourage more people to call authorities when they witness a crime or notice something that seems out of place.
• Stockton Crime Stoppers. Scott also pointed to the Stockton Crime Stoppers program, which pays rewards to anonymous tipsters for information leading to the arrest of individuals suspected of committing a crime in Stockton. The phone number is (209) 946-0600. Last year, $44,000 was paid out in reward money, according to the Crime Stoppers website.
• Who’s That Wednesdays. Turning to social media, Stockton police frequently feature suspected thieves in their “Who’s that Wednesday” posts on Facebook. Police post photos from security cameras of suspects they can’t identify and ask for the public’s help in finding them.
…But homicides are down
Although theft statistics seem to have stalled in Stockton, data from the first half of the year shows some victories for police.
Homicides have dropped 36.7%, continuing a downward trend previously reported by Stocktonia. If the numbers hold through the end of the year, the decline in homicides would reverse the 20% increase that Stockton reported in killings in 2024.
Other violent crimes reported in the city have seen mixed results this year. Aggravated assaults were down 5% between January and June, but rapes were up 18.4%.
And one other crime statistic has shown a significant increase this year: Arson cases have risen 12.7%.
Stockton’s Emergency Food Bank was the site of four fires last month, two of which were labeled as arson, according to an organization official. A man was arrested on suspicion of setting a fire that decimated a historic downtown building in early June. And a day later, another blaze broke out in the building next door.
And while not part of the six-month stats, another arson arrest was made in July: A man was charged with arson and attempted murder after police say he lugged a gasoline can and lighter to the San Joaquin County Probation Office and then set a probation officer on fire.
This story originally appeared in Stocktonia.
