La Jolla has had its share of disturbances this summer — from boisterous parties at Marine Street Beach to reports of illegal fireworks and other unsettling incidents at the La Jolla Recreation Center — but overall, crime appears to be down so far this year.
According to San Diego Police Department statistics from Jan. 1 to Aug. 6, reports of crimes against individuals are down 2% over the period from 2023 to 2025, crimes against property (to obtain money or property) are down 12% and crimes against society (such as gambling, prostitution and drug violations) are down 21%.
However, SDPD Community Relations Officer Jessica Dishman cautioned that “year-to-date data may appear lower simply because the year is not yet complete. As time progresses, reported incidents naturally increase, and the percentage differences may shift.”
Crimes against property
These are the most highly reported of the three categories in La Jolla, with 530 such incidents so far this year. More than 200 of the reports involved shoplifting or other forms of larceny, followed by vandalism, thefts from vehicles and thefts of vehicles.
A graph shows crimes against property reported so far this year in La Jolla. (San Diego Police Department)
But the overall trend is down from past years. In January, March, April and June, there were fewer reports of crimes against property than in those months in 2023 and ’24.
Nearly half of all the reports came from the Villa La Jolla Drive area south of La Jolla Village Drive. SDPD Lt. Bryan Brecht previously told the La Jolla Light that the high number there could be a result of the concentration of businesses in the La Jolla Village Square and The Shops at La Jolla Village shopping complexes in the 8600 to 8800 blocks of Villa La Jolla Drive combined with the presence of the Blue Line trolley’s Nobel Drive station.
“Thefts are going to happen because of the type and size of businesses,” Brecht said in October. “[Investigating officers] are saying that 80% of the thefts they are seeing come from those [who] come in via the trolley and/or homeless people. … There are different types of businesses there, often with a lot of clothing — stuff that is easy to grab — so you are in and out.”
Comparatively, he said, La Jolla’s Village — highlighted by Girard Avenue and Prospect Street — has “smaller, more niche-type businesses” that are less likely to be burglarized, and there are fewer ways to get in and out of that area.
Crimes against individuals
Monthly reports this year of these types of crimes — the majority of which are classified as simple or aggravated assaults — are similar to 2023 and ’24. Thus far in 2025, 104 crimes against people have been reported in La Jolla.
Dishman defined simple assault as “unlawful physical contact or threats that do not result in serious injury or involve a weapon.” Aggravated assault “involves more serious bodily harm or the use of a weapon.”
Crimes against society
In La Jolla so far this year, there have been 68 reports of these types of crimes, predominantly driving under the influence, disorderly conduct and drug violations. The reports peaked in June with 17. Every other month had 11 or fewer.
Past years had more extreme fluctuations. For example, in 2023 there were 23 such reports in May but only two in November.
Though Dishman said “beach areas like La Jolla may have higher visibility and foot traffic, which can result in more enforcement activity … enforcement is conducted consistently citywide.”
Locations and trends
Many reports across the three categories came from the La Jolla Village Square area.
Of the 104 crimes against individuals, 20 were reported in that area, along with 226 of the 530 crimes against property and 14 of the 68 crimes against society.
For crimes against people, the second-highest number of reports were from La Jolla Shores. For crimes against property, The Village had the second-most reports.
Though SDPD “does not speculate on the causes without a detailed and data-supported analysis,” Dishman said “many factors — such as enforcement strategies, public behavior and other variables — can influence crime rates.”
“There has been no indication of a systemic decrease in reporting,” she said, and “we continue to encourage the public to report crimes.” ♦