F
168%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
57%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
189%
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 peopleBerkeley/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime7,150n/a (estimate)6,2242,8432,324
Murder3n/a2.65.76.3
Rape90n/a78.337.440.0
Robbery292n/a254.2123.566.1
Assault282n/a245.5332.8268.2
Violent crime667n/a (estimate)581500370
Burglary1,036n/a901.9371.9269.8
Theft4,611n/a4,014.01,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft836n/a727.8471.9282.7
Property crime6,483n/a (estimate)5,6442,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Berkeley, CA

Crime is typically categorized into two main types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. Based on the most recent report, the Berkeley crime rate is higher than the national average by 167.8%. Specifically, there were 667 violent crimes in Berkeley, equivalent to 581 per 100,000 individuals, higher than the national average by 57%. Furthermore, Berkeley recorded 6483 property crimes, amounting to 5644 per 100,000 residents, which was higher than the average by 188.8%.

With a total of 6224 crimes per 100,000 people, the Berkeley crime rates stand at 167.8 higher than the national average. Consequently, the area grapples with one of the nation's highest total crime rates. Addressing this challenge is crucial for enhancing the safety and livability in Berkeley, making it a priority to reduce crime through community engagement, effective law enforcement, and collaborative efforts to secure a better future for residents and prospective residents.

Berkeley has some of the highest property crime rates in the country with 5644 crimes per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all American cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of property crime in Berkeley is 1 in 18, which is far higher than the national average.

The surge in vehicle thefts is a concerning trend across the United States, and Berkeley is no exception, experiencing one of the nation's highest vehicle theft rates. Last year, Berkeley reported a total of 836 vehicle thefts, resulting in 728 stolen vehicles per 100,000 people. This places the city in the lowest 10% tier among all cities, indicating that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The probability of a vehicle being stolen stands at 1 in 138, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and security measures.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Berkeley?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Berkeley residents. Out of the respondents (140 in total), 21% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Berkeley were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 79% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Berkeley a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Berkeley is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. Berkeley has a total crime rate that is 168% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 19.59 daily crimes (1.83 violent daily crimes and 17.76 daily property crimes) in Berkeley.

Has Crime in Berkeley Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Berkeley. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Berkeley has increased by 17.8%. Violent crimes have increased by 24.2%, while property crimes have increased by 17.1%. 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 Berkeley

The economic well-being of a city's residents plays a significant role in crime rates. High poverty rates and income inequality can lead to increased crime stats as individuals may resort to illegal activities to meet their basic needs. While lower rates could lead to a lower Berkeley crime rate. The poverty level in Berkeley is 17.8%, while the national average is 15.1%.

Highly populated regions typically encompass expansive urban hubs teeming with diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality can be exacerbated, giving rise to enclaves of poverty amid affluence. Communities marked by economic disparities may contend with heightened property crimes, and in certain instances, violent crimes. Conversely, regions characterized by low population density often exhibit lower Berkeley crime rates. For instance, in Berkeley, the population density stands at 11797.1 people per square mile, diverging from the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

In Berkeley, the ratio of police officers and civilians stands at 2.31 per 1,000 residents, contrasting with the national average of 3.25. This discrepancy highlights the potential impact of law enforcement and community policing on crime rates. The strength of their collaboration can serve as a deterrent to criminal behavior, fostering a safer environment. Effective law enforcement leans heavily on community policing strategies that prioritize the cultivation of trust and cooperation between police and residents. It's essential to recognize that the effectiveness of these efforts isn't solely tied to the quantity of officers but also hinges on the quality of their engagement with the community.

Berkeley crime map



The Berkeley crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Berkeley 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 Berkeley crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Berkeley 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 Berkeley, CA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Berkeley crime rates are 168% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Berkeley are 57% higher than the national average
      • In Berkeley you have a 1 in 17 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Berkeley is safer than 6% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Berkeley has increased by 25%

      Berkeley, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Berkeley

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        Daily Crime In Berkeley (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in Berkeley on a daily basis (per 100,000 people) to crimes committed throughout the state of California and the USA. According to the latest crime statistics, daily crimes in Berkeley (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to California, are 2.19 times more than the state average and 2.68 times more than than national average. Violent crimes committed in Berkeley on a daily basis are 1.16 times more than than California average and 1.57 times more than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in Berkeley are 2.41 times more than the daily state average and 2.89 times more than the daily national numbers.

        How Safe is Berkeley (higher is better)

        How safe is Berkeley, California compared to other cities in California and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Berkeley is safer than 8% of the cities in California and 6% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in California and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Berkeley. Overall, Berkeley is ranked above average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Berkeley

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Berkeley is 1 in 173
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Berkeley is 1 in 18
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Berkeley is 1 in 17
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Berkeley, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 173. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 18 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Berkeley is 1 in 17.

        Year Over Year Crime In Berkeley (per 100,000 people)

        An ideal indicator of whether Berkeley is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Berkeley has increased by 32% and the rate of property crime in Berkeley has increased by 25%. The total crime rate in Berkeley has increased by 25% year to year.

        Berkeley police department

        Item Berkeley California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)26551,506558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.33.63.3
        There are a total of 265 Berkeley police officers. This results in 2.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 36.2% less than the California average and 29.1% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in California

        State Total offenders California /100K National /100K
        California79,891232266
        There are a total of 79,891 sex offenders in California. This yields a total of 232 sex offenders in California per 100,000 residents which is 13% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Castle Hill, CA1,16470329399
        Acalanes Ridge, CA87570329399
        Shell Ridge, CA1,08170329399
        Reliez Valley, CA3,32195446542
        San Miguel, CA3,25395446542
        Ross, CA2,4530690690
        Orinda, CA19,46157643700
        Berkeley, CA123,0655815,6446,224

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Victorville, CA122,9589401,8122,753
        Columbia, MO122,6594722,6153,086
        Odessa, TX122,6305202,0682,588
        Fargo, ND123,5506174,1474,764
        Hartford, CT122,5495702,4783,048
        Berkeley, CA123,0655815,6446,224
        Source: The Berkeley, CA 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.