SEATTLE'S CRIME PROFILE

SEATTLE IS A SAFE CITY FOR ITS SIZE

Seattle is one of the safest major cities in the US.  In one year there are about 6 or 7 violent crimes for every 1,000 people who live here and the number of murders in Seattle, around 25 per year, is much lower than in many other cities. Even though violent crimes - homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and rape - are the most serious types of crimes, they are relatively rare in Seattle. 

PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN SEATTLE

But statistics only tell part of the story.  It is also important to know whether people feel safe in Seattle.  A Gallup poll released in 2006 found that people from across the US named Seattle as America's safest large city. A recent city survey of Seattle residents found that 77% of the people surveyed said they felt safe walking alone in their neighborhoods at night.

FOCUSING ON PROPERTY CRIMES

The average person has a much greater chance of being a victim of property crime (some type of theft) than a violent crime. Fortunately, utilizing a few crime prevention techniques and taking a few extra minutes to protect your property might be enough to make it not worth a criminal's time to target your property.

WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY RISK?

Seattle is very fortunate to have an actively engaged and informed community. Our city does not tolerate crime; and this is especially shown when people take part in programs such as Block Watch, using crime prevention techniques, and reporting any crimes that do occur.

REPORT BOTH BIG AND SMALL CRIMES

Seattle has one of the highest rates in the nation of crime victims who report crimes. This high rate of reporting is very important for four reasons:

• It helps investigators do their job, since trends and patterns can be more easily discovered.

• It gives a far more accurate picture of true crime in the city.

• It shows that the community has confidence that these crimes will be followed up on.

• It shows criminals that crime is not tolerated, and is taken seriously.

If you were a victim of any crime; even if it was small and happened a few months ago, we encourage you to report it.

LEARN AND USE CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES

The Seattle Police Department has crime prevention coordinators available at each precinct, and much information about crime prevention and safety education is also available on this site.

GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

A neighborhood where residents know each other, maintain their properties, and show zero tolerance for small and "nuisance" crimes indicates a high level of resistance to crime. It sends a clear signal to criminals to "stay away" and may stop more serious crimes from occurring. One official way to organize your neighborhood is to start a Block Watch, but there are also many other prevention methods you can use to protect your neighborhood from crime.

CITY CRIME MAPS