Most residents of Danville never have to think twice about public safety. Home to about 43,000 people, the wealthy East Bay suburb has recorded just eight homicides in 20 years, with the last in 2023.
In 2024, there were only 6 violent crimes reported for every 10,000 people that live in Danville. That compares to 48 per 10,000 in California overall. In Danville, the most common crimes are robbery and theft. Eighteen vehicles were stolen in Danville in 2024, according to the most recently available public data. In six of those instances, someone left the vehicle unlocked with the keys still inside, parked in driveways or elsewhere in public. That same year, the city recorded 201 thefts, 30 burglaries and 18 car thefts.
To try to address those overly trusting residents who leave cars or homes unlocked, the police and volunteers leave notes on windshields or doorsteps that say “If I were a thief…,” and explain exactly what the resident did wrong…