A
40%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
67%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
35%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleBelle Fourche/100k peopleSouth Dakota/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime81n/a (estimate)1,3972,1142,324
Murder0n/a0.04.36.3
Rape0n/a0.055.840.0
Robbery0n/a0.025.366.1
Assault7n/a120.7292.0268.2
Violent crime7n/a (estimate)121377370
Burglary5n/a86.2263.0269.8
Theft66n/a1,138.11,231.81,401.9
Vehicle theft3n/a51.7242.2282.7
Property crime74n/a (estimate)1,2761,7371,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Belle Fourche, SD

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Belle Fourche is 39.9% lower than the national average. Specifically, there were 7 violent crimes reported in Belle Fourche, equivalent to 121 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average by 67.4%. Additionally, Belle Fourche recorded 74 property crimes, amounting to 1276 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average by 34.7%.

In a remarkable testament to the city's commitment to safety, Belle Fourche reported a murder rate of 0. This could indicate that it is a very safe place to live, but also serves as an inspiration to other urban areas striving for safer communities. Examining the full crime report will provide a complete overview of all crimes - violent and property.

Is Belle Fourche a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Belle Fourche, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Belle Fourche presents a total crime rate that is 40% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Belle Fourche experiences an average of 0.22 daily crimes, comprising 0.02 violent incidents and 0.2 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Belle Fourche Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Belle Fourche. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Belle Fourche has decreased by 31.9%. Violent crimes have decreased by 50%, while property crimes have decreased by 29.5%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.

Potential Causes for Crime in Belle Fourche

The economic prosperity of a city's inhabitants exerts substantial influence on crime stats. Elevated poverty rates and income inequality can precipitate heightened criminal activity, as individuals may turn to illicit means to fulfill their fundamental requirements. While lower poverty rates could lead to lower Belle Fourche crime rates. In Belle Fourche, the poverty rate stands at 11.6%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.

Limited employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-wage jobs can result in higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. Regions where individuals grapple with joblessness or meager wages may exhibit greater vulnerability to an uptick in crime due to financial instability. While areas that have strong employment rates, often will see a reduction in overall crime. Belle Fourche, for instance, reports an unemployment rate of 6.4%, which differs from the national average of 4.7%.

Belle Fourche has a population density of 635.7 people per square mile, contrasting with the national average of 90.6 people per square mile. High population density cities are often large urban hubs teeming with diverse economic opportunities. Within these environments, income disparities can become pronounced, leading to higher poverty levels. This economic divide may contribute to an uptick in property crimes and, occasionally, violent crimes. In contrast, areas characterized by low population density typically exhibit lower Belle Fourche crime rates.

Belle Fourche crime map



The Belle Fourche crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Belle Fourche as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Belle Fourche crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Belle Fourche crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Belle Fourche, SD Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Belle Fourche crime rates are 40% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Belle Fourche are 67% lower than the national average
      • In Belle Fourche you have a 1 in 72 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Belle Fourche is safer than 64% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Belle Fourche has decreased by 33%

      Belle Fourche, SD Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Belle Fourche (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above illustrates the number of daily crimes in Belle Fourche, SD per 100,000 people. In Belle Fourche, the total number of daily crimes is 1.51 times less than the South Dakota average and 1.66 times less than the national average. The number of daily violent crimes in Belle Fourche is 3.13 times less than the South Dakota average and 3.06 times less than the national average. With regards to property crimes, Belle Fourche has a daily crime rate that is 1.36 times less than the South Dakota average and 1.53 times less than the national average.

        How Safe is Belle Fourche (higher is better)

        Are people any safer living in Belle Fourche in comparison to other South Dakota communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Belle Fourche safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Belle Fourche being safer than 81% of cities in South Dakota and 64% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking South Dakota cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Belle Fourche. In conclusion, Belle Fourche ranks above average compared to the rest of the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Belle Fourche

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Belle Fourche is 1 in 829
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Belle Fourche is 1 in 79
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Belle Fourche is 1 in 72
        Wondering what the chances are that you fall victim to a crime in Belle Fourche? In Belle Fourche, SD you have a 1 in 829 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 79 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 72 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Belle Fourche.

        Year Over Year Crime In Belle Fourche (per 100,000 people)

        The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Belle Fourche, SD is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Belle Fourche has decreased by 51%, while the property crime rate in Belle Fourche has decreased by 31% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Belle Fourche has decreased by 33% with regards to total crimes year over year.

        Belle Fourche police department

        Item Belle Fourche South Dakota National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)12995558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.12.23.3
        There are a total of 12 Belle Fourche police officers. This results in 2.1 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 6.2% less than the South Dakota average and 35.7% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in South Dakota

        State Total offenders South Dakota /100K National /100K
        South Dakotan/an/an/a

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        North Spearfish, SD2,251126582708
        Whitewood, SD9864552,0972,552
        Spearfish, SD11,7022482,3652,612
        Fruitdale, SD975282,4322,960
        Belle Fourche, SD5,6281211,2761,397

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Groveport, OH5,6302061,8382,045
        Trooper, PA5,62698519617
        Turpin Hills, OH5,63196580675
        Lake Fenton, MI5,631204680885
        Campbelltown, PA5,632157831988
        Belle Fourche, SD5,6281211,2761,397
        Source: The Belle Fourche, SD crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.