Yet efforts to fight property crimes are hampered in many cases by their sheer number and relatively low priority in crime-fighting, as police focus their limited resources on violent crimes. But this is the big city, and I'm going to have to be a little more aware for my own personal safety. Law enforcement officials argue that while property crime is a problem, Sacramento's rates may be higher because people here are more likely to report losses. They believe the use of community service centers and volunteers to take crime reports means more crimes are reported here than in other communities. But the losses are real to people who leave their houses in the morning to face empty driveways or find their car windows broken and stereos gone.
Businesses lose millions to shoplifters and thieves.
In a computer analysis of nearly half a million crime reports in the city from 1991 to 1997, Midtown ranked first among 48 neighborhoods for the most property crimes. While Midtown had a significant level of property crime across the neighborhood, there were higher concentrations elsewhere. When the analysis was broken down to the 520 police subdistricts, the most concentrated property crime was in the Arden Fair area, site of the largest shopping mall in Sacramento. The overriding reason cited by police and residents is opportunity. Burruss said he believes no more large complexes should be built in the area, and that some existing complexes need better management.