Property Theft Dominates Sheriff’s Crime Report

How much crime happens in Castro Valley? While the town is relatively safe, property crimes have increased in the last few years, according to a report by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) last month. 

At the September 16 Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting, ACSO Sergeant Marcus Cox and Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez shared crime statistics for 2023 and 2024 up to August. The results are the final stats for last year. ACSO reported a slight increase in all categories compared to its January preliminary report.

In 2023, ACSO reported 2,640 crimes in Castro Valley. Of that number, 1,469 were categorized as “property crimes,” including robbery, burglary, theft, car theft, vandalism, and stolen property. 

Some 699 “crimes against society" were reported, which included drugs, animal cruelty, and weapons charges. 

ACSO also reported 481 “person crimes,” such as homicide, sex offenses, assaults, and property crimes. 

According to ACSI crime statistics, 2,061 crimes were committed in Castro Valley in 2021. That’s about 600 fewer crimes than the previous 12 months. The difference is the lower number of property crimes, including 385 reports of larceny, 176 reported car thefts, and 94 burglaries. Homicide rates are very low in Castro Valley. There were two reported in the last year, while only one homicide was reported in 2021. 

Cox said that “crimes against property,” such as shoplifting and car break-ins, are the most prevalent and that violent crimes are comparatively rare. When violence occurs, the incidents are rarely random. 

“Nine times out of 10, we know the source, the players, and how it happened,” said Cox, reminding people to “Be vigilant and be mindful of what’s going on around you.” 

He said that proximity to BART and multiple freeways aid the influx of people, and technology such as license plate readers helps them locate stolen cars. 

Cox added that the sheriff’s office has seen an uptick of crimes on the East 14th Street corridor in Ashland and Cherryland as well as an increase of crimes against the Asian community, members of which have been followed and robbed as they are known to carry large sums of cash occasionally. 

Asked about homelessness, Cox acknowledged that Castro Valley had issues with encampments. Cox invited Deputy Heidi Burbank, who is a liaison to the unhoused community, to speak to the MAC. 

Burbank said they find encampments in four main locations: the Grove Way overpass, Roberts Court, behind the 580 Marketplace, and the Center Street overpass. 

“We go out to these sites on a regular basis and work with Public Works, Caltrans, and others to provide food and other resources,” said Burbank. 

Burbank said they help people find housing and programs and acknowledged that trespassing, arson, and stolen property are the main crimes they see in the unhoused population. 

Cox said that they focus on helping people out of difficult situations but are not afraid to intervene when lines are crossed. 

“We do all that we can to help people, but sometimes people do need to go to jail,” said Cox.