BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Property crime has been a persistent concern across the country and in California, but new FBI figures show Bakersfield is seeing a notable decline.
Recent FBI data shows property theft in Bakersfield dropped 40% from 2020 to 2024.
Under the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, property theft is defined as “offenses that involve the unlawful taking, damage, or destruction of property without the use of force against the victim.”
FBI data: Property theft in Bakersfield down; some businesses remain skeptical (KBAK/KBFX)
The classifications include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.
Bakersfield police said the overall decline is not straightforward to explain.
Officials said they need to take a deeper dive into the data to determine which types of property crimes are down and what factors may be contributing to the drop.
Some residents and business workers say their experiences don’t match the broader trend.
“I live in this area also,” said Denise Bell, head server at Sorella, an Italian restaurant in Bakersfield.
“I don’t agree with the stat.”
FBI data: Property theft in Bakersfield down; some businesses remain skeptical (KBAK/KBFX)
Bell said Sorella was burglarized in early April and that thefts have continued in the area.
“Well, we were broken into about a week and a half ago and then last night we also saw a burglary of pipes – they stole all the pipes up and down the street. So, within a week and a half we’ve seen two burglaries,” Bell said.
She said property theft has been an ongoing concern in the surrounding area, including vehicle break-ins.
FBI data: Property theft in Bakersfield down; some businesses remain skeptical PHOTO: CHP
“Because I live so close I see a lot of for example, breaking into a car in the parking lot over at Albertsons. I’ve seen a couple people where their windows were smashed and broken into their car,” she said.