FBI: Irvine is safest U.S. city for eighth straight year

Looking to avoid becoming a crime statistic? Move to Irvine.

In 2011, for the eighth year in a row, the Orange County city had the lowest violent crime rate of any U.S. city with a population larger than 100,000, the FBI said Monday.

Irvine -- population 214,872 -- reported only 120 violent crimes last year, the same number as the year before.

Among the crimes: two murders, 67 aggravated assaults, 11 rapes and 40 robberies. Random comparison: Similarly sized Modesto had more than 10 times the number of robberies.

“Eight straight years as the country’s safest city is truly something to celebrate,” Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang said in a statement. “Public safety is a commitment we do not take lightly.”

The data were part of the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report. Overall, reported violent crime in the United States declined 4% between 2010 and 2011, the FBI said.

This story was reported by Times Staff Writer Mike Anton.