COVID-19 pandemic impact on crime in Eureka

EUREKA, Calif. (KIEM) – The Eureka Police Department releases statistics showing the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on crime.

Compared to 2019, there was a 1% overall increase in incidents reported in Eureka.

The report looks at five months of data starting with the shelter in place orders in March.

Of the overall incidents, dispatched calls for service decreased 3% while officer-initiated activity increased 8%.

Also, there was a significant reduction in crime within the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting. There was a 32% reduction in property crime reports and a 22% reduction in violent crime reports.

There has been no change in the number of domestic violence reports.