Stockton’s new ranking lands with weight: The city has been named California’s second‑most dangerous, with violent crime, property crime, homicides and car thefts all outpacing statewide norms.
The city saw 16 homicides in the first half of 2026 — including seven in June alone, making the month the most violent in nearly a decade.
To identify the areas most affected by crime, Reolink — a home safety and security company — analyzed crime data and ranked the 10 most dangerous cities in the Golden State.
Here’s what to know about Reolink’s findings for California and nationwide.
Most dangerous cities in California, according to Reolink
Reolink looked at 2023 FBI crime data, specifically violent crime rates (VCR) and property crime rates (PCR) per 1,000 residents, to identify the top 10 most dangerous cities in California.
The cities on the list were spread across the state, from Oakland to San Bernardino. Here’s what to know about the California cities included in Reolink’s report.
Oakland
“Oakland tops California’s danger list,” Reolink said.
The city has 10.27 violent crimes and 58.93 property crimes per 1,000 residents, according to the company’s analysis. Additionally, the city has high rates of aggravated assaults (6.2 per 1,000) and vehicle break-ins (22.4 per 1,000).
“Crime trends show a 12% annual increase in armed robberies concentrated in downtown and East Oakland areas,” the analysts said.
Stockton
Stockton is the second-most dangerous city, with 9.82 violent crimes and 42.15 property crimes per 1,000 people, according to Reolink.
“Its homicide rate (1.52 per 1,000) ranks among the nation’s highest, driven by gang activity in southside neighborhoods,” analysts said.
Meanwhile, car thefts stand at about 15.8 incidents per 1,000 residents annually, the company found.
San Bernardino
San Bernardino placed third on Reolink’s most dangerous California cities, with crime rates at 7.98 violent crimes and 38.72 property crimes per 1,000 residents.
“The city struggles with armed robberies (3.0 per 1,000) and burglaries (12.6 per 1,000), particularly near the I-215 corridor,” analysts said, adding that “recent police reports indicate worsening meth-related crimes.”
Compton
In Compton, which ranked 4th on Reolink’s report, violent crimes stands at about 7.45 per 1,000 residents, while property crime at about 35.28.
“Gang violence contributes to 65% of homicides (1.21 per 1,000), while catalytic converter thefts have surged to 9.3 incidents per 1,000 people,” analysts said.
Richmond
With 7.12 violent crimes and 33.91 property crimes per 1,000 residents, Richmond rounded out the top five on Reolink’s report.
“The Iron Triangle neighborhood accounts for 42% of the city’s aggravated assaults (4.3 per 1,000),” the company said. “Vehicle thefts occur at 11.2 incidents per 1,000 residents.”
Modesto
Modesto falls 6th on Reolink’s report, with 6.89 violent crimes and 32.84 property crimes per 1,000 people.
“Domestic violence incidents (2.8 per 1,000) and retail theft (9.1 per 1,000) drive these numbers,” according to Reolink.
Year-over-year, crime has increased by 8% in Westside districts, analysts said.
Vallejo
Vallejo ranks 7th on Reolink’s report of the most dangerous California cities and has a 6.72 violent crime rate and 31.97 property crime rate.
“The city struggles with armed robberies (2.6 per 1,000) concentrated along Sonoma Boulevard,” analysts said. “Residential burglaries occur at 8.9 incidents per 1,000 people.”
Salinas
Salinas ranks 8th in Reolink’s report, with 6.53 violent crimes and 31.12 property crimes per 1,000 residents.
“Agricultural worker communities see elevated assault rates (4.1 per 1,000),” analysts noted.
Year-over-year, vehicle thefts have increased by 14% to 10.3 per 1,000 residents, the company said.
Bakersfield
With 6.31 violent crimes and 30.05 property crimes per 1,000 residents, Bakersfield lands 9th on Reolink’s report.
“The metro area’s oil field worker population correlates with higher DUI arrests (3.2 per 1,000),” the company said. “Home burglaries occur at 7.8 incidents per 1,000 people.”
San Francisco
San Francisco ranks 10th on Reolink’s analysis, with 6.05 violent crimes and 72.34 property crimes per 1,000 residents.
“The Tenderloin district accounts for 38% of the city’s robberies (2.3 per 1,000),” analysts noted. “Car break-ins reach staggering levels at 41.2 incidents per 1,000 people.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Danville ranked as the safest city in California, according to Reolink.
California crime 2026 trends, so far
“Based on early 2026 data, crime in California is not increasing—instead, violent crime is showing a clear downward trend across major cities,” Reolink said.
When Reolink looked at data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, it found that “homicides have dropped by 18% and robberies by 19% year-over-year in early 2026, with declines reported in every major city that submitted data, including notable reductions in both Oakland and San Francisco.”
America’s most dangerous cities in 2026, per Reolink’s report
No California cities were listed on Reolink’s report of 10 dangerous cities in America in 2026, which includes:
Tips for keeping safe
In its report, Reolink offered multiple tips for keeping safe, including using outdoor security cameras for deterrence and monitoring.
“A complete setup typically includes motion sensors, door/window alarms, and visible cameras,” the company said. “Modern systems also support remote monitoring via smartphone apps.”
Reolink also said you should stay aware in public spaces and avoid displaying valuables, such as cellphones and jewelry.
You should also be sure to park in well-lit areas, check mirrors before approaching your car and stay aware of your surroundings, the company said.
Lastly, the company said, you should vary your “daily habits and schedules to avoid creating patterns that criminals can exploit.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Stockton named California’s No. 2 most dangerous city as homicides surge
Reporting by Daniella Segura, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Daniella Segura, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
