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Despite seeing a downward trend in reported hate crime occurrences in the city of Livermore, four reported incidents in the city last year resulted in zero identified suspects, according to Livermore Police Department representatives.
By comparison, seven reported hate crime incidents occurred in the city during 2023, resulting in seven suspects, according to the annual Hate Crime in California report published that year.
Across the county, 99 suspects were identified last year in 110 reported occurrences of hate crimes, according to the report published this past July.
Meanwhile, the number of reported hate crime events in 2024 overall statewide (2,023) — defined as a criminal offense against a person or property motivated partially or wholly by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity — marked a 2.7% rise from the previous year.
As for how common it is generally that no suspects are identified in hate crime incidents, representatives of LPD’s Criminal Investigations Bureau said, “Statistically, hate crimes are very low in Livermore.”
“Livermore Police has a very lengthy policy involving the investigation into hate crimes,” the reps added. “Last year, the hate crime suspects were not identified.”
According to LPD officials, the reported hate crimes in 2024 began April 1, wherein police responded to a report of graffiti on a vacant home in the area of North P and Linden streets.
Upon arrival, officers found antisemitic phrases and symbols spray-painted on the property as well as graffiti on a nearby sidewalk and bench belonging to the city, LPD officials said. The police department counted two victims in this case as the property owner and city of Livermore.
On May 17, 2024, LPD responded to a report of a vandalized vehicle parked at Livermore Downs Park where the victim believed it was a direct attack on her sexual orientation, police said.
One month later, LPD were called to a home June 29 to investigate a possible hate crime involving a transgender teen who said he received threatening messages online, according to LPD officials.
The last reported hate crime of the year occurred July 10, 2024, wherein Livermore Police responded to a reported vehicle burglary where the victim’s tools and wallet were stolen from his vehicle and a hateful note was left behind, LPD officials said.Â
