Cops continue to leave Palo Alto for other communities that don’t lionize convicted cop killers in front of city hall. People who don’t believe violent felons should be let out of jail continue to flee California for states that enforce rule of law and don’t coddle crooks (Urban, blue dots in those states being an exception). This has got to be most predictable turn of events I’ve ever seen. It’s only going to get worse. Did people really think constantly voting to let criminals out of prison would result in less crime?

I agree with you, John, please also see the other thread wherein I recommended taxpayers contact their local and state level government representatives to demand prioritization of public safety. There are multiple ways to do this. Ending current reduced or “no bail” policies, for one. People are re-offending.
The number one priority is Public Safety.

Will Stanford increase security at shopping center?
Do the police patrol there?
This has become a scary situation.

There are numerous reports of criminals putting trackers on people's cars at Stanford Shopping Center so they can follow shoppers home. Be aware of people lurking near cars. I have unfortunately been at Stanford Shopping Center in the middle of two frightening smash and grabs. It was abundantly clear to me that these criminals are entitled and unafraid as they knocked me to the ground rushing past me. There must be consequences for all criminal behavior, until then crime will only get worse.

John makes some assertions. While, the middle majority does not believe in defunding the police ... and the population is declining in many places because, to our great advantage, the US was growing for decades on immigration but Trump shut that off.

Still, the crime rate in Palo Alto is much lower than, say, Austin TX. So, if you want a tech center but no crime, you'll stay here.

There still has to be a way to hold criminals accountable. I'm tired of reading about perps who are committing their 3d and 4th crimes while out on bail and while awaiting trial and with DAs who keep saying, "Oh, if the criminal had just stolen more than $950 or had stalked more than one woman, we *might* be able to impose a stiffer sentence rather than letting him/them walk."

Violent crimes, particularly with guns, appear to be increasing in Palo Alto. This is not surprising given the insane policies by District Attorneys in large California cities (like San Francisco and LA), who release violent felons immediately after they have been caught and refuse to prosecute misdemeanors (e.g., theft under $950).

I am happy to see, for once, that most of the comments are in favor of public safety and supporting the police. Notably missing are comments by the small but noisy set of police hating activists who root for "redistribution" of wealth by the criminals.

Rising crime does focus the mind on the importance of the thin blue line between civilization and criminal chaos.

John, agree.

CA Democrats are getting what they voted for: Prop 47 crime increase, releasing prisoners crime increase, sanctuary cities for convicted felons crime increase, etc. Maybe as more Palo Alto citizens are robbed at gunpoint shopping or in their own driveways with their children nearby (thank goodness they were ok), or their houses are burglarized (like mine was), or their cars are broken into with smash-n-grabs (like mine was), their voting habits will change. Until then, Democratic cities like our Palo Alto can expect more of the same crime, and worse. Republican Assemblyman Kevin Kiley proposed repealing Prop 47 last month in March, and the Democratic Legislature killed the bill: “We're proposing a pretty radical idea. Make crime illegal again in California,” Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) in support of the bill to repeal Proposition 47, wrote in a tweet. If someone living in Palo Alto wants this scary violent potentially deadly criminal behavior to end before it affects you personally, vote for state legislature candidates who care about public safety, which is currently NOT liberal Democratic legislators.

Lol the complainers about property crimes of theft under $950 being a misdemeanor miss the fact that when it’s an organized theft ring involved it’s a felony and it’s prosecuted if the thieves are caught.

It’s so sad to see…6:15pm when it’s still bright outside, in a nice neighborhood. I drive by the area every day on my way to my daughter’s daycare….and it’s mind boggling that a gun would be used. Since a wristwatch was stolen, maybe the victim was scouted. The criminals are becoming more and more bold. Fake gun or real gun, they really have almost zero risk. They won’t get caught, and even if by miracle they are, there’s very little real world consequences. My community also recently spent millions on license plate readers, which are worthless since stolen plates are used. Residents spend thousands on security systems and cameras…but all that does is provide great quality videos of people who will never get caught. Technically anyone can waltz into a store and steal whatever they want…with very little resistance. The security guard at Patagonia is really for show…I doubt he’ll lift a finger if someone does steal…and it’s not his fault. Police have a tough situation, but there’s nothing they can do with their hands tied and limited resources….though I must say they are extremely well compensated and retire with lifetime pensions.

So it’s a mess. We’re literally at the mercy of these criminals. They can rob us anytime, anywhere. They started with stealing Amazon packages and bikes….and nothing happened…so then on to breaking in when nobody was home…again, nothing happened….to now driveway assaults in broad daylight. And throw in all the mall and retail thefts…and the SF politicians didn’t even speak until Union Square was hit and they became a national embarrassment. By the way, just google what ended up happening to the few criminals who were actually captured…nothing but misdemeanor trespassing, seriously.

And I’m all for gun control, but when the criminals know there’s just a tiny minuscule probability of someone carrying (especially in the anti-gun culture of the Bay Area), then it’s the wild Wild West and we’re helpless.

The non-prosecution of thefts less than $950 is having a ripple effect throughout the Bay Area. Note that the cars used in these robberies were from well outside this area. They've targeted our area because it looks like a soft on crime neighborhood. It doesn't matter whether they're part of a syndicate or not, they're not being prosecuted which means they can keep terrorizing our community.

Bring back prosecution for misdemeanor theft. Bring back cash bail. This social experiment is failing.

I will take by the comments that I don’t see but would heretofore have expected, that you PA liberals don’t know what to say now that your insanity has come home to roost.

Web Link

The wheels are coming off. Perhaps we can impact change in the June primary when we vote on a new sheriff and a DA and our Assembly member. I don't see what good can come from returning incumbents to office or electing a sheriff who eschews transparency.

@paheidi- not sure how demonizing African-Americans in the South is pertinent here. You might rethink your post.

Install cameras all over town. Piedmont and other cities have them, and they work. Thieves will know not to commit crimes here in Palo Alto. Also, strictly enforce license plate laws.

Democrats have captained the California ship for too long. EVERYTHING is out-of-whack here. We need to elect Republicans for awhile to "right our ship". That's how it works. Democrats can't do it because they lead with the heart. It's time to let Republican's take over for awhile so they can lead with the head.

As has been often said, the CA Democratic party isn't your parents' Democratic Party any more. Ever tried getting an answer from the County Democrats on any of their positions? Or a straight answer from our Assembleymen Becker and Berman who are "still trying to wrap their heads" around the issues and then the next day vote against what their constituents want?

That being said, the GOP is nuts, banning MATH textbooks for pitching Critical Race Theory, denying what happened on January 6th, refusing to participate in Presidential debates because some people might notice what they're espousing...

It's very troubling and the Democrat's refusal to deal sensibly with the crime wave is absurd. (And I've been a lifelong Democrat!)

Here is a link to crime stats for Palo Alto 2016-2021. Quite variable. Web Link

It is worth noting that our city's residential population increased from 66,649 to 68,572 over that same period...and that, historically, our population has more than doubled every workday as workers commute in to local jobs. I didn't search for clear, recent data on what the changing workday population numbers look like, given traffic volume reductions due to the pandemic.

Much has been written about how the city's crime stats are way understated, how the police blotter is notoriously incomplete and one only has to go over to NextDoor etc to read people's posts about why specific incidents they've witnessed, for which they've provided videos etc. never get reported.

That's the whole issue with "transparency"

There is no need for a change in state laws to confront this crime wave, Palo Alto has the ability to solve the problem on our own. The solution to the crime epidemic caused by out of town criminals is strict enforcement of existing laws within city limits. Everyone going faster than 25 MPH on Middlefield, 25 MPH on Embarcadero, 35 / 25 MPH on Alma should be pulled over, have their plates run, and ticketed. Criminals won't even be able to make it to Stanford Shopping Center or downtown without getting pulled over first.

great description of the car how about a description of the s-bags that robbed the man in front of his home with a child present ?

Have the police identified these criminals yet? We need an update!
It seems our town is becoming more and more unsafe. Police, please find and convict these people!

And yet another broad daylight armed robbery – 2 blocks from police headquarters. Becoming a weekly occurrence it seems. Does the PA City Council care? Does the PAPD care? More importantly, do the citizens of PA care? Are we going to let this get out of control before we pressure the seemingly ineffective public officials to take action? SO tired of the soft on crime state of this city as conditions deteriorate and leaders remain silent.

As per previous reports, PAPS stopped pursuing them because of their reckless driving on Sand Hill Road. There may be a lesson there.