Crime trends on the Central Coast

Law enforcement officers across the Central Coast say burglary, larceny and stolen cars are affecting more people than any other serious crime.

Salinas resident, Alyssa Manriquez knows about auto theft firsthand. When she left her house in Salinas to head for work earlier this month she was surprised. Not by what she saw, but rather by what she didn’t see.

“I was scared because I had not been home and then the night I was home, my car went missing,” Manriquez said, “it kind of made me feel like I was being watched”

Down the road on McAllister Street, former athletic trainer Joe Nemeth reminisces about the 1982 Texas League Championship ring that was stolen from his home in 2010.

“To have them disappear even though they are material things…it hurts,” said Nemeth.

Joe’s wife, Joanne, is equally torn up about it.

“I really felt like I was violated because they actually went through my lingerie drawers,” said Joanne Nemeth.

For Kaitlin Rubio of Santa Cruz, it’s the same story, different place.

“We came back to find six or seven computers gone and a couple tablets gone,”said Rubio.

Police say, it is not just jewelry, cash, cars or electronics, but it is also bikes. Santa Rruz police say at least 2,100 of them were stolen in Santa Cruz over the last six years.

“I just got mad, said John Saunders whose bike was stolen the day after his phone was, “I was like who would just steal a bike like right in the middle of where the dorms are,” added Saunders.

All across the Central Coast, burglary, larceny and stolen cars are the three most common serious crimes cops are seeing.

Last year in Salinas, more than 1,900 cars were stolen, more than 1,500 reports of theft and almost 700 burglary cases.

Police in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Seaside could not give us exact crime numbers, but they are seeing the same top three crimes.

And it isn’t just the Central Coast. 2015 F.B.I stats show that these three crimes are the most common serious crime throughout the nation.

But why?

Monterey County Deputy Sheriff Scott Davis says, that is a hard question to answer.

“It is really hard to determine why,” said Davis. “There have been a lot of legislation changes. Prop 47, AB-109, the prison realignment. So it is really hard to tell and there needs to be a little more research data.”

But up the coast line, a community safety group called “Take Back Santa Cruz” says it is pretty sure these crimes can attributed to three main problems.

“Mental health issues, addiction and lack of consequences for criminal behavior,” said Take Back Santa Cruz member David Giannini.

Giannini says, he believes drug and alcohol addictions can lead people to a life of crime. He has dealt with alcohol addiction first hand. Now sober, he says the problem hits close to home

“The kindest thing we can do for someone who is addicted is get them to recognize their addiction,” said Giannini.

Giannini and “Take Back Santa Cruz” say they’re advocating for change from law enforcement and lawmakers.

They want them to reexamining the low bail schedule, require mandatory treatment for drug offenders and modify Prop 47 to have more consequences for repeat offenders.

Deputy Davis offers another solution, involving a closer relationship between cops and residents.

“It starts with law enforcement and the community and building the trust, said Davis. “And keeping open lines of communication and really working together to solves these crimes.”

Back in Salinas, Joanne Nemeth offers more insight.

“We joined the neighborhood watch program here and we all look out for each other now,” said Nemeth.