Most Dangerous Cities In California: Oakland Tops The List (PHOTOS)

According to statistics released earlier this month by Federal Bureau of Investigation, cities in Northern California run the gamut from the most dangerous in the state to zones that are virtually crime-free.

The San Francisco Business Times complied all those stats into a single list ranking all the cities in California based on their rates of violent crime per capita in 2010.

Check out the full list here.

How does your hometown stack up?

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Comments

[shekinahlove]

01:30 PM on 09/27/2011

This article is extremely misleading, and is one of the main reasons Oaklands economy suffers! Even just over the bridge in San Francisco people believe these lies! Sure..there are neighborhoods where the crime IS worse and IS an issue...but it depends on WHERE you live! There are areas of Oakland that are MUCH nicer than SF, or any of the other surrounding cities! I live over by Lake Merritt and have never had a problem....even late at night, walking home from downtown Oakland to here. Its all what you make of it.

[El Pinguino]

12:40 PM on 09/27/2011

Thanks god errr.... Buddha that I live in So Cal... considering all those violent cities in the north!

Just kidding..................................... I don't think this article was well researched or executed.

[John Melgar]

06:00 PM on 09/26/2011

we have to do something about the bums that are keeping these stupid gangs alive

[knott wrench]

02:58 PM on 09/25/2011

Belvedere! Its an Island City!

Don't think you're going to find a lot of people who make Blue Collar wages or less living there.

[TheOuroborus]

06:27 PM on 09/23/2011

I live in Northern California and I agree, Oakland pretty much sucks. If you have the means and don't need to commute into SF, why on Earth would you live there? Why take the chance? It's not worth it. Emeryville is only on the list because a few of it's streets really should be in Oakland.

[neeksmith]

05:54 PM on 09/23/2011

This post is misleading. Not all of the law enforcement agencies in the state report crimes to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, hence the reason why Los Angeles only has a rating of 5.59 rating versus Oakland's 15.3.

[tulsey]

05:31 PM on 09/23/2011

Oaktown is a lovely city is spite of Gertrude Stein's pronouncement. Best weather in the world this side of Tiburon. A rich musical and art herritage. Architecturally alive with everything from downtown deco to craftsman cottages and much more.High Tech getto right in Emmeryville. I myself won the hand of a fair maiden from the hill country there. Plus plenty of dope on the flat lands if that's your thing.

[Oaklandtsucks]

04:44 PM on 09/23/2011

I have lived in Oakland for more than twenty years and although there are nice areas in Oakland, there is a large impoverished area. Crime however is widespread and not just restricted to the blighted neighborhoods. I have been a victim of crime numerous times. The city of Oakland's community and economic development agency is also inept and rife with corruption and as a city the reputation of Oakland is well founded as a cesspool. It would be great if the city bureaucrats could be replaced with people more concerned about filling their responsibilities as civil servants.

[tulsey]

05:34 PM on 09/23/2011

You would get this same service on the east coast without the weather. Just save up a few million buck and move to Marin.

[Brenda Starr]

04:36 PM on 09/23/2011

Know what? I (a white woman) lived in one of the "most dangerous" places in Oakland for a year and right now I'm about 8 blocks away from it, in San Leandro. I have not been frightened ONE TIME in this area and I have found all the people to be concerned about their families and making a living. My Spanish has improved enormously and I'm mentoring some young Hispanic women in business, teaching English and being friendly. The citizens of Oakland are living in a city that is devoid of funding for education and jobs just like everywhere else. I love Oakland. And I ain't skeeeered a bit.

[tulsey]

05:38 PM on 09/23/2011

Well put, any comparrison with valley towns such as Fresneck or Mollesto are unfair. Or as George Carlin put it "Don't be skeered, it's only a beard.

[John Melgar]

05:56 PM on 09/26/2011

they are devoid of funding because our state is in a but load of debt

[rioderek]

12:36 PM on 09/23/2011

I was born and raised in Oakland, I now live in Manhattan Beach (LA Area), however the bult of my family remains in the beautiful bay area.

Oakland, Stockton( not an east bay city) and all of the other cities noted in that article are far cleaner, nicer, and happening than many dumps left off that list. I'd take Oakland over most cities in this state and/or country. There's no comparing relative to Oakland beauty and affluence with cities like Fresno, Bakersfield, Van Nuys, Compton, East LA, actually all of non-coastal LA county, the vast majority of the midwest, south and northeast.

The article must have been written by a clueless idiot who doesn't get around.

[marianproletarian]

01:03 PM on 09/23/2011

It's not really an article, just some stats: violent crimes per capita. I take it you didn't grow up in East Oakland.

[Brenda Starr]

04:37 PM on 09/23/2011

I lived in East Oakland and the biggest problem is car break-ins.

[FrancineFishpaw]

01:57 PM on 09/23/2011

I live in a nice part of East Oakland, Lower hills. There are two Oaklands - one is poor, ghetto, blight and crime - the other is beautiful, great hiking trails, neighborhoods and wonderful people.

Stay out of Far East Oakland and West Oakland and you'll be fine.

[bayland]

07:29 PM on 09/23/2011

I might add that those wonderful people have skins of many different shades. Law abiding Oakland is a very beautiful thing.

[Mister President]

12:17 PM on 09/23/2011

I'm heading up to Belevedere to stir up some trouble. Maybe try to sell a little meth to millionaires and lift a few of their big screen HDTVs while they're out of their yachts.

[deborahjoybrat]

01:28 PM on 09/23/2011

LOL LOL! Can I come with you?

[FrancineFishpaw]

02:00 PM on 09/23/2011

It's the new CA pastiome - a 100 yard dash with an HDTV.

[skantea]

12:10 PM on 09/23/2011

Downtown Oakland near the lake is nice enough. Probably because everything shuts down around six.

[FrancineFishpaw]

02:01 PM on 09/23/2011

Grand avenue has about eight new restaurants and bars and they are all open until 10.

[TheOuroborus]

06:29 PM on 09/23/2011

And that makes it all worth it?

[ruleoflaw66]

12:08 PM on 09/23/2011

gonna do a study, huh?

How many will that make now?

Give me the money for the study and I'll tell you why there's so much crime.

No jobs.
No investment in the community.
Bad schools.
Racist law enforcemen­t.
And a system that has done everything it could for over 300 years to destroy an entire race of people.

No, let the h8ting begin...

[bayland]

07:26 PM on 09/23/2011

Oh that it were as simple as the race card. It's not. It's tragic.
The self h8ating is rampant, and it's heartbreaking.
When we blame the system for fratricide, we throw the dignity of the individual, and all hope, right out the window.

[bob riversmith]

07:49 PM on 09/24/2011

People aren't self-actualizing autonomous beings ... we are social apes.
Habitat and demographics strongly influence our behavior and thinking. You cannot ignore "the system", as you call it, from helping to create the negative externalities that condition the individual.

[dbrett480]

07:40 PM on 09/23/2011

The lack of jobs play a small role in it. But the major factor is bad education and an acceptance of gang lifestyle. Combine this with a small number of cops per capita, and you will see a high level of crime.

[bob riversmith]

07:52 PM on 09/24/2011

The "gansta" ethos is learned behavior ... we celebrate and glamorize mafias and outlaws in our media and popular folklore ... and our economy has degenerated into a kleptocracy operated by powerful mob organizations ... called corporations.

[field-man]

12:02 PM on 09/23/2011

Just keep letting the Ilegal aliens out of jail to commit more crimes and not deporting them- thanks Janet,& Obama,- and keep taking away the 2nd amendment rights of the law abiding citizens to defend themself- thanks California, and you have this problem, wow the Libs and progressives sure no how to run things, we are all so proud of this state, no wonder everybody is moving to Texas

[NCOak]

01:27 PM on 09/23/2011

try to stay focused on the issue at hand.

also...everybody is moving to texas? LMAO!

[Zibop]

01:48 PM on 09/23/2011

LMAO! If you 'no' Texas is a better place for you, pull your bootstraps and get going! What are you waiting for? Texas is the place you want to be. Gun totin' is the life for you. Please, just go.

[advocatusdiaboli]

08:51 AM on 09/23/2011

Those more restrictive California gun control laws that disarm victims sure work well don't they?

[DrCalif]

09:10 AM on 09/23/2011

The laws won't work as long as thugs can buy arms at gun shows. Same place the Mexican cartels buy theirs, incidentally.

[imusintheevening]

12:00 PM on 09/23/2011

snap

[Jerry Bourbon]

03:18 PM on 09/23/2011

The ATF is selling to "thugs" too?

Who knew...

Incidentally, if you could cite just one gun show in the State of California at which ANYONE can sell legally without a NICS check, I will become your fan.

[mikeyaz17]

09:41 AM on 09/23/2011

yes they do... if they are all enforced.. and should even more strict