D
80%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
21%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
99%
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 peopleCerritos/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime1,975n/a (estimate)4,1732,8432,324
Murder0n/a0.05.76.3
Rape9n/a19.037.440.0
Robbery58n/a122.6123.566.1
Assault72n/a152.1332.8268.2
Violent crime139n/a (estimate)294500370
Burglary250n/a528.3371.9269.8
Theft1,301n/a2,749.11,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft285n/a602.2471.9282.7
Property crime1,836n/a (estimate)3,8802,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Cerritos, CA

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Cerritos is 79.6% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Cerritos, there were 139 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 294 per 100,000 individuals, 20.6% lower than the national average. Additionally, there were 1836 property crimes, amounting to 3880 per 100,000 residents, 98.5% higher than the U.S. average.

Cerritos has a crime rate of 4173 per 100,000 people, which surpasses the national average by 79.56%, leading to one of the highest total crime rates in the United States. Addressing this issue is vital for improving overall safety and desirability of Cerritos. Efforts to reduce crime through community engagement, effective law enforcement, and collaborative initiatives are essential to create a more secure and appealing environment for residents and prospective newcomers alike.

In a remarkable testament to the city's commitment to safety, Cerritos 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.

Cerritos has some of the highest property crime rates in the country with 3880 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 Cerritos is 1 in 26, which is far higher than the national average.

The occurrence of vehicle thefts has been increasing nationwide, and Cerritos faces one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the United States. In the latest reported crime year, there were a reported 285 vehicle thefts, translating to 602 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Cerritos in the bottom 10% among all cities, signifying that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The likelihood of experiencing a vehicle theft is 1 in 167.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Cerritos?

AreaVibes surveyed 35 local residents in Cerritos to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 66% of people answered that there was very little crime in Cerritos and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 34% of people responded that there was far too much crime and they would be hesitant to walk the streets alone at night. Keep in mind that the opinions of residents may vary depending on which area they live in.

Is Cerritos a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Cerritos 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. Cerritos has a total crime rate that is 80% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 5.41 daily crimes (0.38 violent daily crimes and 5.03 daily property crimes) in Cerritos.

Has Crime in Cerritos Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Cerritos. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Cerritos has increased by 35.1%. Violent crimes have increased by 39%, while property crimes have increased by 34.8%. 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 Cerritos

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 Cerritos crime rates. In Cerritos, the poverty rate stands at 4.3%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.

Cerritos has a population density of 5659.2 people per square mile, while with the national average is 90.6 people per square mile. Cities characterized by high population density are frequently larger urban centers offering diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality may be accentuated, resulting in the coexistence of poverty and affluence. Such economic disparities can contribute to elevated property crimes and on occasion, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density generally record lower Cerritos crime rates.

In areas where housing affordability is an issue, crime can become a significant concern. Some individuals and families may be forced to live in overcrowded or substandard housing conditions, which can increase stress and potentially contribute to domestic disputes and related crimes. The median home price in Cerritos is $716,000, compared to a national average of $184,700.

Cerritos crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Cerritos crime rates are 80% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Cerritos are 21% lower than the national average
      • In Cerritos you have a 1 in 24 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Cerritos is safer than 21% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Cerritos has increased by 43%

      Cerritos, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Cerritos

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        Daily Crime In Cerritos (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Cerritos for every 100,000 residents. The Cerritos total amount of daily crime is 1.47 times more than the California average and 1.80 times more than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Cerritos, is 1.70 times less than the California average, and it is 1.26 times less than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Cerritos has a daily crime average that is 1.66 times more than the California average and 1.99 times more than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Cerritos (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in California and all other cities across the US, is Cerritos safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Cerritos is safer than 34% of other cities in the state of California. In addition, Cerritos is safer than 21% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all California and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Cerritos. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Cerritos is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Cerritos

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Cerritos is 1 in 341
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Cerritos is 1 in 26
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Cerritos is 1 in 24
        Are you at risk of becoming a victim of crime in Cerritos, California? If you reside in Cerritos, then there is a 1 in 341 chance that you will experience a violent crime. These types of crimes may include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 26. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Altogether, there is a 1 in 24 risk that you will become a victim of crime in Cerritos.

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

        An analysis of year to year crime rates in Cerritos, California (per 100,000 people) is a useful indicator of whether the area is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live. The amount of violent crime in Cerritos has increased by 47%, the amount of property crime in Cerritos has increased by 42%, and the total amount of crime in Cerritos has increased by 43% year over year.

        Cerritos police department

        Item Cerritos California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)n/a51,506558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residentsn/a3.63.3

        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
        Rose Hills, CA2,619113527640
        Villa Park, CA5,88335893928
        Yorba Linda, CA68,103539961,050
        Rossmoor, CA11,9231908931,083
        La Habra Heights, CA5,318551,0491,104
        Bell Gardens, CA41,7703871,1031,490
        La Puente, CA39,7803171,1821,499
        Cerritos, CA49,3882943,8804,173

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Wilson, NC49,3105162,4642,980
        Dunwoody, GA49,4662492,9463,195
        Texas City, TX49,4682772,3162,593
        Downers Grove, IL49,263124727851
        Troy, NY49,2536733,3514,023
        Cerritos, CA49,3882943,8804,173
        Source: The Cerritos, 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.