California's Elite Victims: Violent Crimes Surge, Sparing Not Even the Rich and Famous

Despite California's claims of decreased crime rates, high-profile figures have become targets of robberies, thefts, and even murder, raising concerns over the true extent of the state's crime crisis.

California's glittering facade has been tarnished by a surge in violent crimes, with the state's most affluent residents becoming unsuspecting victims. From Hollywood celebrities to tech moguls and politicians, the Golden State's top tier has fallen prey to a relentless wave of robberies, thefts, and even murder.

Despite the state's insistence that its crime rates are declining, the recent high-profile murder of "General Hospital" actor Johnny Wactor has shattered the illusion of safety for California's elite. Wactor was shot and killed by a thief attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his car, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The three suspects believed to be connected to his murder remain at large.

Former D.C. homicide detective and Fox News contributor Ted Williams described Wactor's murder as a "murder of convenience," occurring simply because the actor was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Wactor's senseless killing is just the latest example of the rich and famous falling victim to the state's crime crisis. Tech executive Bob Lee, founder of Cash App and former chief technology officer of Square, was stabbed to death in San Francisco, California in April 2023.

Last month, "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Kyle Richards' eldest daughter, Farrah Aldjufrie, was the victim of a home burglary. Her step-father, Mauricio Umansky, previously told Fox News Digital that she was lucky to not be home at the time and was doing okay. The West Hollywood Sheriff's Department said the thieves took jewelry and various personal items from the home.

Earlier this month, the daughter of Stewart Butterfield, a San Francisco tech-billionaire and the co-founder of Slack, was kidnapped. His daughter, Mint Butterfield, was found safe and unharmed. The suspect was arrested in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, an area infamous for high crime and considered unsafe for minors.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has had her home burglarized twice now – once in 2022 and again last month.

"The unfortunate thing is that we have a rise of crime in America," said Williams. "And when you look at California and specifically the L.A. area, it is just a nest of criminal activity out there."

Williams emphasized that the bigger issue is a shortage of law enforcement officers, a shortage that is fueling the rise in crime.

"As a result of a lack of law enforcement out there, crime is going to continue to go up," Williams said. "One of the things that Los Angeles is going to have to do, as well as other jurisdictions in this country, is that they're going to have to hire more police officers to patrol the streets of their various cities, specifically Los Angeles."

Williams added that the rise in catalytic converter thefts among high-profile individuals is due to the value of the components in the expensive automobiles driven by celebrities who reside in Los Angeles.

Another contributing factor to the high crime in major cities in California, according to Williams, is the release of criminals back onto the streets who should still be incarcerated.

"When you look at overall criminal activity, specifically violent criminal activities in these various communities, not only in Los Angeles, but around the country, there's one common thread, and that is you have a lot of individuals who are out on the street who should no longer be on the street, committing these crimes," Williams said.

When asked if he believed the recent surge in violent crimes would lead to any positive changes in the future, Williams expressed pessimism.

"Unfortunately, I do not see any changes within the near future, as it pertains to crime in these neighborhoods," Williams said. "Crime will continue to go up. And what we have, unfortunately, is a lack of police presence in the neighborhoods. And so, as a result of a lack of police presence, you can expect crime to continue to go up in all of these neighborhoods."

Despite the alarming statistics and the high-profile cases, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office claims that Wactor's murder is not an indication of a rise in crime in Los Angeles.

"Our office is committed to vigorously and fairly seeking justice for all crime victims, regardless of economic status or celebrity," the DA's office said. "We have no indication that there has been an increase in crime targeting celebrities in Los Angeles County."

Back in February 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to crack down on rising crime in the Bay Area. Newsom said he was deploying 120 California Highway Patrol officers as well as more prosecutors to help with the crime crackown.

"An arrest isn’t enough," Newsom said in a previous statement. "Justice demands that suspects are appropriately prosecuted. Whether it’s ‘bipping’ or carjacking, attempted murder or fentanyl trafficking, individuals must be held accountable for their crimes using the full and appropriate weight of the law."

However, Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods called Newsom's plan "a band-aid to fix a broken arm."

"More prosecution and more police is not the solution here," Woods said in a previous statement. "We need housing, money for community-based organizations, higher wages, employment, as well as money for our schools, medical care and mental health."

Despite Newsom's promised $1.1 billion investment to "fight crime, hire more police, and improve public safety," California's violent crime rate increased by 5.7% from 2021 to 2022, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

The data show that California has also seen increases in violent crime in the years since the pandemic hit. The state’s violent crime rate is now up by 13.5% compared to the pre-COVID rate of 2019.

Of the state’s 58 counties, the data showed that 36 saw violent crime rise in 2022, with rates in 13 counties increasing by 20% or more.

Despite a decrease in robberies and rapes, robberies involving a firearm rose by 12.5% in 2022 compared to 2019.

Fox News Digital reached out to California Governor Gavin Newsom's Office for comment but did not receive a response.