San Francisco’s homicide rate is low compared to other big cities, but the murder of tech founder Bob Lee shows that doesn’t tell the whole story

• The tragic murder of tech founder Bob Lee has reignited the debate over crime in San Francisco.
• Residents are calling on authorities to address a growing feeling that the city has become too dangerous. 
• Homicides are indeed on the rise, but the city’s violent crime rate is relatively stable.

The tragic murder of Bob Lee — a prolific tech investor and the former CTO of financial technology giant Square — has cast a harsh light on crime in San Francisco.

Data from local authorities paints a complicated picture of the city’s crime: Most violent crime statistics have remained relatively stable over the past few years, though the overall number of homicides has ticked higher. Property crime, meanwhile, has risen sharply.