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Crime
Not All of America’s Safest Cities Followed Trend of Declining Crime
In the latest Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, the FBI reported a nationwide violent crime decrease of 4.6 percent when comparing the first half of 2014 to the first half of 2013. That’s good news, and for the most part, the Top 10 Safest Cities fell in line with the national trend. Fremont, California, the #3 Safest City in the country, saw a notable violent crime drop of nearly 25 percent; however, some top 10 ranking safe cities cannot say the same. Henderson, Nevada, the #5 Safest City in the country, reported nearly 20 percent more violent crimes as compared with the same period prior year.
The FBI’s semiannual report covers January to June 2014–the most recent period for which comprehensive crime statistics are available. Law Street’s analysis of this preliminary data for each of the Top 10 Safest Cities Over 200,000 appears below as an update to our most recent Crime In America Rankings published last Fall. Changes in these preliminary statistics, included below, compared with the same time period in the previous year provide key information on emerging trends in these important cities ahead of the full-year coverage of rankings that will be available this Fall.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS CITIES WITH POPULATIONS OVER 200,000.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS CITIES WITH POPULATIONS UNDER 200,000.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SAFEST AND MOST DANGEROUS STATES.
#1 Irvine, California
Overall, the violent crime in Irvine, the safest city in the United States, fell by 16.4 percent. In January to June 2014, murder, rape, and aggravated assault in the city of 235,830 people all fell, although there was a slight uptick in robberies. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.
Total Violent Crime: -16.4% (2013: 55, 2014: 46)
Murder: -100% (2013: 2; 2014: 0)
Rape: -33.3% (2013: 6; 2014: 4)*
Robbery: +6.3% (2013: 16; 2014: 17)
Aggravated Assault: -19.4% (2013: 31; 2014: 25)
Click here for full coverage of Irvine’s 2015 ranking.
#2 Gilbert, Arizona
Gilbert, the second safest city in the United States, saw a slight uptick in crime for this period. The most notable increase for this city of 225,232 was in robbery; over the same months in 2013, Gilbert saw only 23 incidents of the crime; however, in the first six months of 2014, there were 32. Overall, however, Gilbert’s increase in crime was rather small. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.
Total Violent Crime: +5.8% (2013: 103; 2014: 109)
Murder: -100% (2013: 1; 2014: 0)
Rape: +33.3%* (2013: 6; 2014: 8)
Robbery: +39.1% (2013: 23; 2014: 32)
Aggravated Assault: -5.5% (2013: 73; 2014: 69)
Click here for full coverage of Gilbert’s 2015 ranking.
#3 Fremont, California
Fremont’s crime dropped across the board, including a large drop in rape and robbery cases, and a smaller decrease in aggravated assault. With a nearly 26 percent drop in violent crime for the #3 Safest City in the country with a population of 224,475, Fremont saw the largest drop in crime among all of the safest cities over 200,000. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.
Total Violent Crime: -25.8% (2013: 155; 2014: 115)
Murder: +/- 0% (2013: 1; 2014: 1)
Rape: -41.7% (2013: 12; 2014: 7)*
Robbery: -36.3% (2013: 80; 2014: 51)
Aggravated Assault: -9.7% (2013: 62; 2014: 56)
Click here for full coverage of Fremont’s 2015 ranking.
#4 Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita saw an increase in violent crime of nearly 13 percent in the first half of 2014; robbery and aggravated assault incidences in particular increased. Rape, however, decreased slightly, and the murder rate remained stagnant at just one case for each period for the city of 204,951 people. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.
Total Violent Crime: +12.6% (2013: 135; 2014: 152)
Murder: +/- 0% (2013: 1; 2014: 1)
Rape: -18.2% (2013: 11; 2014: 9)*
Robbery: +25.7% (2013: 35; 2014: 44)
Aggravated Assault: +11.4% (2013: 88; 2014: 98)
Click here for full coverage of Santa Clarita’s 2015 ranking.
#5 Henderson, Nevada
Of all the Top 10 Safest Cities, #5 ranked Henderson experienced the largest increase in crime. This may be partly because Henderson, a city of 268,237 people, changed the way it defines rape in accordance with revised FBI standards. The more expansive definition may be the reason that the overall crime rate increased by so much. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.
Total Violent Crime: +18.6 (2013: 167; 2014: 198)
Murder: -50% (2013: 2; 2014: 1)
Rape: Not comparable (2013: 16; 2014: 33)**
Robbery: -11.5% (2013: 78; 2014: 69)
Aggravated Assault: +33.8% (2013: 71; 2014: 95)
Click here for full coverage of Henderson’s 2015 ranking.
#6 Plano, Texas
Plano, Texas is the #6 Safest City in the country with a population over 200,000 people; however, we cannot provide an update on its preliminary 2014 data. According to the FBI, Plano’s data was incomplete at the Uniform Crime Report deadline. If the data becomes available through the FBI, we will post an update with that information.
Click here for full coverage of Plano’s 2015 ranking.
#7 Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona is the #7 Safest City in the country with a population over 200,000 people; however, we cannot provide an update on its preliminary 2014 data. According to the FBI, Scottsdale’s data was incomplete at the Uniform Crime Report deadline. If the data becomes available through the FBI, we will post an update with that information.
Click here for full coverage of Scottsdale’s 2015 ranking.
#8 Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia saw the second highest drop in crime among the Top 10 Safest Cities in America. The rape, robbery, and aggravated assault numbers all dropped by an impressive amount, and while murder increased, it still reflects a very small number overall for the city of 450,687 people. Data below reflects changes for period January to June 2014 versus same period in 2013.
Total Violent Crime: -20.3% (2013: 394; 2014: 314)
Murder: +20% (2013: 10; 2014: 12)
Rape: -39.8% (2013: 83; 2014: 50)
Robbery: -22.8% (2013: 158; 2014: 122)
Aggravated Assault: -9.1% (2013: 143; 2014: 130)
Click here for full coverage of Virginia Beach’s 2015 ranking.
#9 Garland, Texas
Garland, Texas is the #9 Safest City in the country with a population over 200,000 people; however, we cannot provide an update on its preliminary 2014 data. According to the FBI, Garland’s data was incomplete at the Uniform Crime Report deadline. If the data becomes available through the FBI, we will post an update with that information.
Click here for full coverage of Garland’s 2015 ranking.
#10 Chandler, Arizona
Chandler, Arizona is the #10 Safest City in the country with a population over 200,000 people; however, we cannot provide an update on its preliminary 2014 data. According to the FBI, Chandler’s data was incomplete at the Uniform Crime Report deadline. If the data becomes available through the FBI, we will post an update with that information.
Click here for full coverage of Chandler’s 2015 ranking.
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Research and analysis by Law Street’s Crime in America Team: Kevin Rizzo, Chelsey Goff, and Anneliese Mahoney.
Click here to see full coverage of Crime in America 2015.
Source: FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January – June 2014.
*The data for rape was reported using the FBI’s legacy definition of this offense, not the current revised definition. For further explanation, please click here.
**Henderson, Nevada, made the switch from the legacy definition of this offense, to the current revised definition. Therefore, it is not possible to compare the two years.
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