D-
21%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
27%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
20%
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 peopleLakewood/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,215n/a (estimate)2,8092,8432,324
Murder0n/a0.05.76.3
Rape19n/a24.137.440.0
Robbery109n/a138.2123.566.1
Assault241n/a305.6332.8268.2
Violent crime369n/a (estimate)468500370
Burglary237n/a300.5371.9269.8
Theft1,181n/a1,497.61,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft428n/a542.7471.9282.7
Property crime1,846n/a (estimate)2,3412,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Lakewood, 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 Lakewood is 20.9% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 369 violent crimes reported in Lakewood, equivalent to 468 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 26.5%. Additionally, Lakewood recorded 1846 property crimes, amounting to 2341 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 19.8%.

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

With a total of 428 vehicle thefts last year, Lakewood has one of the most stolen cars in the country at 543 per 100,000 people. This lands Lakewood 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 Lakewood?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Lakewood residents. Out of the respondents (26 in total), 58% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Lakewood were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 42% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Lakewood a Safe Place to Live?

Before you decide to relocate, it’s always good to ask yourself “Is Lakewood a safe place to live?” Although the answer might not be that simple, as some areas are safer than others, getting a good feel for the overall rate of crime can definitely be helpful. Overall, the Lakewood crime rate is 21% higher than the national average. If we break that down daily, that translates into 6.07 crimes per day - 1.01 violent crimes and 5.06 property crimes.

Has Crime in Lakewood Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Lakewood. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Lakewood has increased by 14%. Violent crimes have increased by 56.4%, while property crimes have increased by 8.1%. 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 Lakewood

In areas where employment options are limited or where a significant proportion of jobs offer meager wages, the likelihood of heightened unemployment and homelessness increases. Regions facing challenges related to unemployment or inadequate income may become more vulnerable to a surge in crime stemming from economic instability. While low unemployment rates tend to lead to reduced crime in most areas. Lakewood currently has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. This could be one of many factors that could contribute to a higher or lower crime rate.

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 Lakewood crime rates. For instance, in Lakewood, the population density stands at 8475.1 people per square mile, diverging from the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

High cost of living can lead to economic stress for individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. When people struggle to make ends meet due to high housing costs, healthcare expenses, or other basic necessities, they may be more inclined to engage in criminal activities, such as theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. On the flipside, cities that have a lower cost of living, could see a reduced crime rate. In Lakewood, the cost of living is 46.55% higher than the national average.

Lakewood crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Lakewood crime rates are 21% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Lakewood are 27% higher than the national average
      • In Lakewood you have a 1 in 36 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Lakewood is safer than 19% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Lakewood has increased by 15%

      Lakewood, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Lakewood

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        Daily Crime In Lakewood (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in Lakewood 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 Lakewood (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to California, are 1.01 times less than the state average and 1.21 times more than than national average. Violent crimes committed in Lakewood on a daily basis are 1.07 times less than than California average and 1.27 times more than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in Lakewood are 1.00 times less than the daily state average and 1.20 times more than the daily national numbers.

        How Safe is Lakewood (higher is better)

        How safe is Lakewood, California compared to other cities in California and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Lakewood is safer than 29% of the cities in California and 19% 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 Lakewood. Overall, Lakewood is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Lakewood

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Lakewood is 1 in 214
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Lakewood is 1 in 43
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Lakewood is 1 in 36
        Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Lakewood? If you reside in Lakewood, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 214. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 43 change that you will become a victim of a property crime. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in Lakewood, is 1 in 36.

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

        A good indicator of whether Lakewood is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Lakewood has increased by 57%, while the property crime rate in Lakewood has increased by 9% year over year. The number of total crimes in Lakewood has increased by 15% year over year.

        Lakewood police department

        Item Lakewood 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
        Rolling Hills, CA1,4390480480
        Rose Hills, CA2,619113527640
        Ladera Heights, CA6,419163762925
        Rossmoor, CA11,9231908931,083
        La Habra Heights, CA5,318551,0491,104
        Rancho Palos Verdes, CA41,6351291,0071,136
        View Park-Windsor Hills, CA11,6212561,2001,456
        Lakewood, CA79,6764682,3412,809

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Folsom, CA79,5841391,4591,597
        Alameda, CA79,8273124,2994,610
        Pleasanton, CA79,9751101,7681,878
        New Rochelle, NY79,36776692769
        Lawrence, MA80,0225029041,406
        Lakewood, CA79,6764682,3412,809
        Source: The Lakewood, 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.