F
46%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
194%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
18%
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 peopleBarstow/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime866n/a (estimate)3,4012,8432,324
Murder6n/a23.65.76.3
Rape10n/a39.337.440.0
Robbery54n/a212.1123.566.1
Assault207n/a812.9332.8268.2
Violent crime277n/a (estimate)1,088500370
Burglary169n/a663.7371.9269.8
Theft238n/a934.61,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft182n/a714.7471.9282.7
Property crime589n/a (estimate)2,3132,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Barstow, 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 Barstow is 46.3% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 277 violent crimes reported in Barstow, equivalent to 1088 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 194.2%. Additionally, Barstow recorded 589 property crimes, amounting to 2313 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 18.4%.

Barstow ranks among the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities reporting violent crime, earning its reputation as one of the nation's most dangerous areas. With a violent crime rate of 1088 per 100,000 people, Barstow is considered one of the most unsafe cities in America. This statistic translates to a 1 in 92 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Barstow, underscoring the need for increased safety measures and community engagement to improve the city's security.

Despite a steady decline in murder rates in the United States since 1990, recent years have witnessed an unfortunate uptick. Barstow stands out with one of the nation's highest murder rates, surpassing other cities that reported crime. In Barstow, there were a total of 6 murders, translating to 24 murders per 100,000 people, underscoring the pressing need for continued efforts to address and reduce severe violent crime in the area.

The occurrence of vehicle thefts has been increasing nationwide, and Barstow faces one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the United States. In the latest reported crime year, there were a reported 182 vehicle thefts, translating to 715 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Barstow 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 140.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Barstow?

What do the local residents think about crime in Barstow? Well, based on a recent survey of 67 people (conducted by AreaVibes), 21% of Barstow residents said that there was virtually no crime and that they felt safe walking at night. Another 79% of respondents said that there was too much crime in the area and they did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Barstow a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Barstow, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Barstow presents a total crime rate that is 46% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Barstow experiences an average of 2.37 daily crimes, comprising 0.76 violent incidents and 1.61 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Barstow 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 Barstow 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 Barstow has decreased by 28% year over year. Violent crime has increased by 0.7% and property crime has decreased by 36.5%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Barstow

Barstow has a population density of 570.2 people per square mile, contrasting with the national average of 90.6 people per square mile. High population density cities are often large urban hubs teeming with diverse economic opportunities. Within these environments, income disparities can become pronounced, leading to higher poverty levels. This economic divide may contribute to an uptick in property crimes and, occasionally, violent crimes. In contrast, areas characterized by low population density typically exhibit lower Barstow crime rates.

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 Barstow, the cost of living is 1.04% lower than the national average.

In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Barstow has a median home price of $130,100, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

Barstow crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Barstow crime rates are 46% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Barstow are 194% higher than the national average
      • In Barstow you have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Barstow is safer than 4% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Barstow has decreased by 32%

      Barstow, CA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Barstow

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        Daily Crime In Barstow (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Barstow, California is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Barstow are 1.20 times more than the California average and 1.46 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Barstow are 2.18 times more than than California and 2.94 times more than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Barstow are 1.01 times less than than California and 1.18 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Barstow (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in California and all other cities across the US, is Barstow safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Barstow is safer than 6% of other cities in the state of California. In addition, Barstow is safer than 4% 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 Barstow. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Barstow is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Barstow

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Barstow is 1 in 92
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Barstow is 1 in 44
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Barstow is 1 in 30
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Barstow? In Barstow, you have a 1 in 92 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 44. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Barstow, CA is 1 in 30.

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

        The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Barstow, CA is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Barstow has decreased by 5%, while the property crime rate in Barstow has decreased by 40% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Barstow has decreased by 32% with regards to total crimes year over year.

        Barstow police department

        Item Barstow California National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)4951,506558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.13.63.3
        There are a total of 49 Barstow police officers. This results in 2.1 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 41.5% less than the California average and 35% 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
        Lenwood, CA4,4315192,4342,954
        Barstow, CA23,5471,0882,3133,401

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Hialeah Gardens, FL23,5462721,7932,064
        Romulus, MI23,5449652,4853,450
        West Puente Valley, CA23,5556783,1773,855
        Fish Hawk, FL23,556106639745
        Watertown, WI23,5612451,3501,595
        Barstow, CA23,5471,0882,3133,401
        Source: The Barstow, 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.