Oakland, Full of Crime

CQ Press released their annual list of the hottest crime cities in the U.S. And the Bay Area scored in the top 20. Twice!

Coming in behind Camden, NJ, and St. Louis, MO -- who won first and second place, respectively -- Oakland ranks third when it comes to crime. Contending cities were judged on reports of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft (in cities with more than 75,000 residents.)

According to SFGate, Oakland jumped up a few spots this year, "ranking 4th in 2007 and 5th in 2008." Most staggering, however, is that Oakland never even placed in the top 20 between 1998 and 2004.

The city of Richmond, the Bay Area town that played host to a gang rape on a high school campus during a homecoming dance, came in at #14. To view the list in its entirety, go here (.pdf!).