Encinitas saw an increase in some types of crimes, including those involving assaults, during 2024 compared with recent past years, according to an annual San Diego Association of Governments report released in August.
SANDAG’s Annual Criminal Justice Bulletin looked at overall county crime statistics in 2024 and compared them with previous studies in 2023 and 2021. Based on the overall comparison, Group A offenses — defined collectively as crimes against persons, society and property — dropped by 5% from 2023 and 13% from 2021.
However, crimes against persons — such as murder, negligent manslaughter, justifiable homicide, aggravated and simple assaults, kidnapping/abduction and human trafficking — were up 22% over 2023 but almost unchanged (less than 1%) over 2021, according to the findings.
The 2024 bulletin looks at one-year and three-year comparisons, which excludes 2022 as a result, because the statistics were compiled using an updated FBI and state reporting process, according to SANDAG.
On a side note, the city’s overall population dropped by about 1%, from 61,593 in 2021 to 61,254 in 2023-24, SANDAG reported.
In terms of the type of crimes against persons seen in Encinitas during 2024, there were 118 aggravated assaults, 319 simple assaults, 24 incidents of intimidation, 18 non-consensual sex offenses, four kidnapping/abduction cases and one murder/nonnegligent homicide.
The news was better when it came to crimes against society — such as drug/narcotic violations, gambling offenses and prostitution — which were down 6% from 2023 and 11% from 2021, according to SANDAG. Crimes against property — such as robbery, burglary, various thefts and stolen property, vandalism and destruction of property — were down 12% from 2023 and 23% from 2021.
Among the latter two divisions, Encinitas saw its highest 2024 numbers in larceny/theft offenses (465), drug/narcotic and drug equipment violations (289 and 232 respectively), shoplifting (170), fraud offenses (165), and thefts from motor vehicles (123).
Under Group B offenses, Encinitas’ highest numbers were seen in disorderly conduct (182 cases) and intoxicated driving (121).
SANDAG’s full report, including details for every community in the county, can be found on the organization’s Criminal Justice Research & Clearinghouse site.