Oakland, Richmond and San Jose See Jump in Homicides, Robberies in First Half of 2011; Gang Activity, Police Cuts Cited.
Some of the Bay Area’s largest cities are experiencing a jump in violent crimes such as homicide and robbery, according to city records and the state attorney general.
The causes of this year’s surge appear to be linked to factors such as gang activity as well as budget cutbacks in police, say local law-enforcement officials. In Oakland and San Jose, violent crime has swelled amid police layoffs. Other cities such as Richmond, which is grappling with gangs, have experienced an increase in violent crime even as they have invested in their police departments.
[…]
