Irvine violent crime rate lowest in its history

The lowest violent-crime rate in city history last year netted Irvine its 10th straight title as the safest big city in the nation, Irvine police said this week.

In 2013, Irvine chalked up the fewest violent crimes per capita for any city over 100,000 residents, according to federal data released Monday.

The city of 235,830 reported 113 violent crimes last year, according to the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, which compiles data submitted by law enforcement agencies across the country.

Irvine’s total breaks down to two homicides, 12 rapes, 38 robberies and 61 aggravated assaults.

Although 110 violent crimes were reported in the city in 2012, a spike in population of about 18,000 residents means Irvine’s per-capita rate dropped, according to the FBI’s numbers.

Irvine experienced a decline last year in property crime.

The city reported 3,304 burglaries, thefts, vehicle thefts and arsons in 2012 compared with 3,285 in 2013.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck