The results from the State Department of Justice are preliminary because they only include 65 percent of California’s cities – the ones with populations of 100 thousand people or more.
Violent crimes, including homicides, robberies and aggravated assaults, increased by 3 point 2 percent.
Crimes involving property, such as car theft and burglary, increased 2 percent.
State Department of Justice Spokesperson Robin Schwanke says the State Attorney General attributes the increase to two things:
 
The increase in violent crime can be attributed to a lot of the criminal street gangs in California.  Drugs play a large part in it, methamphetamine is a big issue.
 
Schwanke says despite the increases, crime levels remain at their lowest in years.  Even so, the Attorney General has called for increased attention to wiping out street gangs and methamphetamine trafficking.