Home Antioch Letter: Reader Says Antioch Crime is Not Down, But Has Increased

Letter: Reader Says Antioch Crime is Not Down, But Has Increased

by ECT

For most of 2015, Antioch residents have been told by the City of Antioch that crime is being reduced. Those statements should be challenged as I keep hearing from people “crime is up”, especially for the month of November.

As someone who was an avid scanner listening, I am emailed far too many times about sirens, red lights, helicopters, etc. and there is no information obtained via the scanner to calm jittery nerves and aid residents while traveling to their daily errands. Prior to the scanner being shut off, I could answer questions about what was going on in the city and help people when needed with information in real-time.

I cannot do that anymore.

In my opinion, a scanner gone dark has caused more paranoia due to lack of transparency by Antioch Police Department. That said, my initial thoughts about crime being up were simply a matter of perception that there were more than the reality regarding crime and sirens.

Then, as of 10:26 Tuesday morning, the latest year-to-date statistics were published by the police department making a post on Facebook that may be inaccurate.

The post read:

Antioch-Nov-Crime-Posts
“As we continue to rebuild our staff, we are continuing to see reductions in our Part 1 crime. Through the month of November, we have seen a 10.1% reduction in violent crime, 8.5% reduction in property crime, and a 15.7% increase in total arrests compared to the same time period from 2014.

Remember, Antioch residents are in the dark now and can only “fact check” off data provided by the police department. Furthermore, scanners at the very least could verify perception with the amount of activity.

Antioch-Crime-Stats-November-7-years

click to enlarge

In my review of data over Part 1 Statistics for 7-years for the month of November–I chose November so that there is a comparison since the scanners went dark in the perceived increase/decrease in crime in Antioch.

All those years are also inclusive to indicate milestones like the announced end of the recession, recruiting start date (10/2012), Measure C funding hit, etc.

The percentages below each category (Violent Crimes, Property Crimes, Arson, etc) are the increase/decrease from the prior year. Again, these numbers are only for November. But the results are quite revealing.

  • Homicides have been the highest for the last 7 years (same) for 2015, 2014, 2012
  • Rapes have been the highest in 2015 in the last 7 years, up 100% over 2014
  • Robberies are down for 2015 compared to 2014, almost 25%
  • Aggravated Assaults were up for 2015 compared to 2014 over 18%
  • Total Violent Crimes were up 1.5% in 2015 over 2014
  • Burglaries are down in 2015 from 2014, not sure what Prop 47 has to do with that
  • Thefts were up in 2015 over 2014, over 55%
  • Vehicle thefts were up in 2015 over 2014, over 90%
  • Total Property Crimes were up in 2015 over 2014, over 31%
  • Total Occurrences reported in 2015 were up over 2014 by 25%

So, what does this mean?

For one, it’s hard to argue with the data for the month of November over the last 7-years. I would argue crime is up even as Antioch Police claims it’s added 8-officers. I would add the caveat that there are different perspectives that need to be looked at and taken into consideration.

An example would be the “per day rate:” of crimes. How many are reported during the month and averaged by the number of days in the month.

Daily Property Crimes:

  • 2013 – 14.4
  • 2014 – 8.9
  • 2015 – 11.7

Daily Total Occurrences:

  • 2013 – 16.4
  • 2014 – 11.2
  • 2015 – 14.0

So, does that make a difference? I’d say that it’s extremely debatable but what is not debatable is Antioch deserves more transparency within its police department to the public versus playing with the numbers during each reporting time frame—as done by Chief Cantando selecting a timeline he had never chosen before when he said January – November, remember typically he does quarterly updates.

If the residents of Antioch would pay more attention and challenge the police chief on his statements they would realize that a reduction of 10.1% may sound impressive, but the calculation shows a reality that it equates to a reduction of 1 violent crime every 4 days.

In regards of property crimes, it would equate to almost 1 per day less than the 3800 last year or 324.
Residents should be told the truth, that per the police departments own data for the month of November, shows crime is up. The rate per day, a direct correlation to the total, reflects that.

Without a scanner or reporting on EastCountyToday or other news sites crime is now perceived as down. Crime is now imagined but those who say otherwise are perceived as outcasts. The truth is, there are more sirens than ever on Antioch streets and arrests are up. If crime was down, arrests would not be up.

While Chief Allan Cantando is a nice man, very likeable and you want to believe him, the community is not stupid and will only stay silent for so long—especially with the 2016 elections. The community is aware of what is transpiring in this city with regards to crime and lack of information being shared, but for some reason people do not want to speak up against being mislead by not only the city manager, but the council and police chief.

Although the community is not yet vocal about the scanner being dark, more and more folks are complaining about the lack of scanner availability—I am seeing a hostility form which may rear its ugly head in the near future. In fact, I believe it will become a major campaign issue going forward.

I encourage the community to no longer let the City of Antioch tell you what to think, but verify the statistics, put the effort in and see for yourself that crime is actually up. Use your eyes and ears and you will see flashing lights and hear sirens.

If you don’t believe me, look up the data for yourself.

All numbers used can be found at: City of Antioch website under crime maps

Submitted by Rich Buongiorno, an Antioch resident.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of East County Today nor are we advocating for one candidate or anothe

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16 comments

cooper Dec 30, 2015 - 8:30 am

This opinion is one of the most misleading articles i’ve seen with regards to Antioch. Rich should know better that you do not compare one month of one year to a month from a previous year because there are so many variables that go into play. While I am sure it will make for a nice entertainment value, its simply not true.

For example, variables could include number of officers, weather, who was arrested who was not, community neighborhood watch activity, renters, the list goes on. Some months will be higher and some years will be high,

I would argue like the chief and Rich did, no matter how you decide a timeline to compare, the stats can always be fit to present a case in your favor. Rich did nothing different than the Chief.

Pedro Garcia Dec 30, 2015 - 10:51 am

Crime seems to be up, there is a lot more homeless, the streets are getting dirtier. I have lived here for 10 years and seems it gets worse every year. We need more patrols. We need more city workers cleaning up our city. We tax payers are fed up with the free hand outs. We need to stop allowing so much section 8 and welfare into our city. We need a new major immediately and city counsel and manager. The city seems to be living in a fantasy world in their own bubble. They need to come out and see for themselves. Stop allowing these low lives into our city. Antioch used to be a prideful city. Now all I see is criminal haven. All I see is people littering everyday because they never work hard for anything and don’t care about where they live, because it’s free. It’s free hands out by the liberals that are screwing up our cities and turning them into ghettos. For example come to Big Lots and 99 Cents Only Store parking lot off Delta Fair and you will see bums, trash, drug dealers, prostitutes and list goes on and on. We need to take back our city. This is getting out of hand.

karl dietzel Dec 30, 2015 - 3:09 pm

i like to thank rich for his report. our crime stats are wrongly reported for many years, its just depend what our city leaders need/ want.
the big difference to me is : rich is a Antioch residents, and the chief is the chief.
the point on this story are NOT the stats, the point is the crime in Antioch, and nobody of our elected council members / mayor, city manager, or department heads are being held responsible.

@cooper, please don’t shot the messenger

Antioch is the new Detroit Dec 30, 2015 - 4:31 pm

THANK YOU RICH!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID . I just hope the APD dont bully you calling them out on this lie they want us to believe. I have noticed anytime i make a statement publicly about the APD i get pulled over and searched within less than a week of when I said something…..kinda scary.

Julio Dec 30, 2015 - 5:48 pm

Antioch is the new Detroit. Boy aren’t you so very important. I can think of a lot of posters they might want to pull over but they have never been pulled over.

Ray Dec 30, 2015 - 6:08 pm

I have listened to the scanner for many years. On more than one occasion, it probably saved my life. For example, when Pittsburg officer Lasater was shot and killed, I heard on the scanner the perp was running around my neighborhood with a gun. We told the neighbors to get inside and close their garage doors. The thug then climbed over my NEXT DOOR neighbors fence.
Who knows what could have happened.
We need to get together and have the airwaves for police and fire open to us again!
They have always had their MDT and cell phones for sensitive information!
WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?
In the age of terrorism, we need to know what’s going on. Not “trust us, we will let you know”.

Rich, we need to get together and stop their crap.

Rich Dec 31, 2015 - 1:48 pm

There are so many ways to not impede public safety. Yours is a good example. I have had two recent “near misses” (bank robbery & car-to-car shots fired) since the scanners died. I fully understand the encryption, but public safety has been lost in the process. No reason why soemthing like this can’t happen: https://local.nixle.com/alert/5558475/?sub_id=2256324 . Then people like myself, ECT, etc. can get the word out. Even the suggestion of delays the same length of time as a response time (now baically 10 minutes) for public safety.

Jennifer Dec 30, 2015 - 7:46 pm

We don’t live in Antioch and I’ve never listened to a scanner, but listening would INCREASE my fear. Unless you’re listening for professional reasons (including the media), why would you want to hear “everything” that happens? The more you listen, the more your paranoia will increase. It’s called “exposure.” If you’re that fearful, move to a city with a lower crime rate. Antioch has never been a nice city, and it never will be.

Rich Dec 31, 2015 - 12:23 pm

Good assumption Jennifer, let me give you 2 recent events, all of which I would have avoided going to the grpcery store had I known there was a bank robbery in progress and if there weren’t car to car gun fire. My use and subsequent rweporting is for public safety. I alert people to accidents/incidents so they can either avoid the area or reroute themselves when going to Kaiser, etc. so they can avoid an incident. Jus a few. Now, I am resorting to going to Brentwood or Oakley to do shopping. Crime is everywhere but if you can minimize your exposure then you will avoid it. There is also the advantage of paying leff sales taxes by going there and candidly a lot more variety.

Al Dec 30, 2015 - 8:15 pm

Long time Antioch resident and a non paranoid scanner enthusiast chiming in. Knowledge of the goings on in my neighborhood has not made me paranoid or fearful, lack of knowledge of the goings on is beginning to though. My usual empathy for our police, coming in large part from hearing the mundane and sometimes not so mundane crap they deal with on a daily basis is lessening. Operating in an information vaccum will do them no good in the long run. As Rich said do the homework and question the stats.

Leonard Orman Dec 30, 2015 - 9:33 pm

Antioch enjoys one of the most transparent police departments in the Bay Area, if not the state. To select one month to make a point is anything but transparent and is at best misleading. Anyone who deals with statistics, especially those dealing with crime, knows you have to examine months and years worth of data to determine trends. Why some cannot accept that crime is trending downward in Antioch is beyond me. In the past, the department has been up front when crime trended well above what it is today. Nobody had an issue with those statistics but demanded they be lowered. The community needs to embrace the positive results of the hardworking men and women of their City government including the police department, neighborhood watch groups, community groups and concerned citizens. There is plenty of work still to be done, but the police department and City government are only an extension of the community. In order to be successful, it needs the support of the community as a whole.

The radio traffic on scanners has little to do with how crimes are coded for statistical purposes. Encrypting radio traffic has everything to do with the safety of officers, increasing success when responding to crimes in progress and privacy issues.

Antioch is the new Detroit Dec 31, 2015 - 6:15 am

I have lived in Antioch for over 30 years. I live in a house that is not section 8 or rented. I know the Antioch PD harass and lie . I also know there are a few good cops on APD who cant stop the corruption because it is their boss and their city council who have been more corrupt. The city is a complete reflection of its city officials , officers and council. I remember when Pittsburg was the ghetto and Antioch was way safer. Now look at PIttsburg , they even have a downtown area with businesses in their downtown. Look at Pittsburg High and look at the improvements that have been done in just one city away. Antioch is just failing and sold out by its own politicians and continues to crumble . Antioch well get worse before it gets any better . Just watch and see or be blind and get mad the truth.

Ray Dec 31, 2015 - 11:07 pm

WOW Leonard Orman
Been drinking the Kool Aide?

R..jb Jan 1, 2016 - 1:41 am

You’ve all been had. Certain low life section 8 households were given decoders so they know when to quickly put the drugs away and turn off the lights when the cops have been called. Guess who gave the decoders to them? Lol.

This way the section 8 parasites are kept safe and law abiding tax paying citizens are kept in the dark while under the impression that crime is dramatically decreasing for some magical reason.

Welcome to Antioch, where the criminals are protected and the garbage elected.

Marty Fernandez Jan 1, 2016 - 2:11 pm

I support Leonard Orman who served Antioch as one of its finest. He has value in what he says just as Rich has his right to speak up. I have lived here since 1965 and though I get very disgusted and certainly do not trust our city leaders at all I still spent the last 20 years working my butt off to better the city. I stopped doing so in December 2014 when I was so disgusted at what is happening here I no longer go to council meetings. In fact I told Harper off and walked out. Not that any of them cared. Lori is the only person who works to better the city and they shut her down continually. We need to get rid of Duran and this mayor and council folks then flex our muscles and clean this pig sty up. Happy New Year.

Antioch is the new Detroit Jan 3, 2016 - 1:49 pm

I must agree I have seen Lori work at a different job she had in the past, I believe if she was able to get past the bs that she is working with . she might be able to help the city . Unless she exposes the wrong our city has done , then I doubt she can fix it alone. She needs to call them all out.

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