F
72%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
112%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
64%
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 peopleTaft/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime346n/a (estimate)3,9892,8432,324
Murder0n/a0.05.76.3
Rape1n/a11.537.440.0
Robbery11n/a126.8123.566.1
Assault56n/a645.6332.8268.2
Violent crime68n/a (estimate)784500370
Burglary30n/a345.9371.9269.8
Theft201n/a2,317.31,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft47n/a541.8471.9282.7
Property crime278n/a (estimate)3,2052,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Taft, CA

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 Taft is 71.6% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 68 violent crimes reported in Taft, equivalent to 784 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 112%. Additionally, Taft recorded 278 property crimes, amounting to 3205 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 64%.

Taft ranks among the most perilous cities in the United States, bearing a violent crime rate of 784 per 100,000 people, positioning it within the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities reporting crime statistics. The odds of falling victim to violent crime in Taft stand at 1 in every 128 residents, emphasizing the pressing need for enhanced safety measures and community engagement to address this significant concern.

In the latest reported crime year, Taft recorded zero homicides. This statistic potentially positions the city as a paragon of security, radiating a profound sense of safety for its residents. A low number of severe violent crimes instills a deep feeling of well-being among its community but also establishes a lofty benchmark for other locales aspiring to foster equally secure environments.

With a total of 47 vehicle thefts last year, Taft has one of the most stolen cars in the country at 542 per 100,000 people. This lands Taft in the bottom 10% of all cities that reported crime and the chance of any vehicle being stolen is one in 185.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Taft?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Taft. Based on the results of the surveys (6 responses), 33% of people felt that there was very little crime in Taft and felt safe walking alone at night. While 67% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Taft a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Taft 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. Taft has a total crime rate that is 72% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 0.95 daily crimes (0.19 violent daily crimes and 0.76 daily property crimes) in Taft.

Has Crime in Taft Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows us to analyze short-term trends in crime activity. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, we can identify patterns and shifts in Taft crime rates. This information can be invaluable for residents looking to make informed decisions on where to live. When comparing the most recent year to the previous year, total crime in Taft has increased by 29.6% year over year. Violent crime has increased by 44.7% and property crime has increased by 26.4%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Taft

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 Taft crime rates. For instance, in Taft, the population density stands at 601.7 people per square mile, diverging from the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

In Taft, 60.8% of residents have graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of a community can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

Elevated rental costs can generate economic strain for both individuals and families, particularly those with restricted financial means. When a substantial proportion of one's income is allocated to housing costs, it often leaves limited resources for fulfilling other crucial necessities such as groceries, healthcare and education. This financial pressure can fuel desperation, potentially prompting individuals to resort to criminal actions, including theft or fraud, as a means of coping with their financial hardships. In Taft, the average monthly rent stands at $783, while the national average is $949 per month.

Taft crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Taft crime rates are 72% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Taft are 112% higher than the national average
      • In Taft you have a 1 in 26 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Taft is safer than 7% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Taft has increased by 39%

      Taft, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Taft

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        How would you rate the amount of crime in Taft?
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        Do you feel safe walking alone at night in Taft?
        Write a review to give others more information about this area.
        See all Taft poll results

        Daily Crime In Taft (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Taft, California is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Taft are 1.40 times more than the California average and 1.72 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Taft are 1.57 times more than than California and 2.12 times more than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Taft are 1.37 times more than than California and 1.64 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Taft (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Taft to every other city in California, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Taft safe? The gauges above illustrate that Taft is safer than 10% of every city located within California along with 7% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in California and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Taft, CA is ranked above average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Taft

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Taft is 1 in 128
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Taft is 1 in 32
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Taft is 1 in 26
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Taft? In Taft, you have a 1 in 128 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 32. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Taft, CA is 1 in 26.

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

        An ideal indicator of whether Taft 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 Taft has increased by 55% and the rate of property crime in Taft has increased by 35%. The total crime rate in Taft has increased by 39% year to year.

        Taft police department

        Item Taft California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)2251,506558,732
        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
        South Taft, CA2,1202811,3151,596
        Maricopa, CA2,1572811,3151,596
        Taft Heights, CA1,5093051,4271,731
        Ford City, CA4,9095192,4342,954
        Valley Acres, CA6417143,3474,061
        Derby Acres, CA2887543,5334,286
        Fellows, CA547773,6424,419
        Taft, CA9,1897843,2053,989

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Lancaster, SC9,1875332,5063,039
        Lenoir City, TN9,1913872,3972,784
        Fruitland Park, FL9,1852241,3541,578
        Belgrade, MT9,1845111,7082,219
        Valley, AL9,1955163,6664,181
        Taft, CA9,1897843,2053,989
        Source: The Taft, 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.