The City of Chico's midyear crime report showed a 15 percent decrease in the number of crimes, but many people who live in Chico say that isn't the case.
"I've been here for four years and this is the highest we have ever been concerned," Chico State student Kendall Cook said.
According to the Chico Police Department serious crime was down 15 percent in the first half of 2012 with property crimes dropping 17 percent.
Chico Police supervisors say the stats don't really reflect what officers are dealing with.
"I think if you asked an officer, just picked an officer out in the field, I don't think they would tell you crime is down," Lt. Mike O’Brien said.
In fact, the department is working to shift more of its resources to patrol duties after recording 110 burglaries in the month of September, an all-time record.
"The third quarter stats for this year are showing a significant increase in residential burglaries and burglaries in general," O’Brien said.
One crime that has seen a significant jump in the first half of the year was rape, which increased by 89 percent.
That has forced Chico state students like Kendall Cook to change their routine.
"You're afraid to walk to class too early. It is just sketchy around here lately. You just don't feel safe alone," Cook said.
While the stats may say the city is safer, Lieutenant Mike O'Brien says people shouldn't let their guard down, because lower staffing levels and other factors could skew the numbers.
"The statistics are influenced by the number of officers you have to take reports, are people always reporting all the crimes that occur to them. So you have to be careful how you interpret those stats," O’Brien said.
The police department is working to revamp its online crime reporting system to make it more user friendly.
Officers hope that will lead to better reporting of smaller property crimes they believe go unreported because of the staffing shortages.
