| Statistic | Reportedincidents | /100k people | Mesquite/100k people | Texas/100k people | National/100k people |
| Total crime | 5,175 | n/a (estimate) | 3,478 | 2,430 | 2,119 |
| Murder | 6 | n/a | 4.0 | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Rape | 60 | n/a | 40.3 | 50.0 | 37.5 |
| Robbery | 120 | n/a | 80.6 | 63.5 | 60.6 |
| Assault | 560 | n/a | 376.3 | 270.7 | 256.1 |
| Violent crime | 746 | n/a (estimate) | 501 | 389 | 359 |
| Burglary | 583 | n/a | 391.8 | 284.3 | 229.2 |
| Theft | 2,924 | n/a | 1,965.0 | 1,425.6 | 1,272.1 |
| Vehicle theft | 922 | n/a | 619.6 | 330.7 | 258.8 |
| Property crime | 4,429 | n/a (estimate) | 2,976 | 2,041 | 1,760 |

The Mesquite crime rates are 64.1% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 746 violent crimes in Mesquite (501 per 100,000 people), which is 39.6% higher than the national average and there were a total of 4429 property crimes (2976 per 100,000 residents) which is 69.1% higher than average.
The surge in vehicle thefts is a concerning trend across the United States, and Mesquite is no exception, experiencing one of the nation's highest vehicle theft rates. Last year, Mesquite reported a total of 922 vehicle thefts, resulting in 620 stolen vehicles per 100,000 people. This places the city in the lowest 10% tier among all cities, indicating that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The probability of a vehicle being stolen stands at 1 in 162, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and security measures.
AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Mesquite residents. Out of the respondents (101 in total), 36% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Mesquite were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 64% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.
To determine if Mesquite 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. Mesquite has a total crime rate that is 64% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 14.18 daily crimes (2.04 violent daily crimes and 12.13 daily property crimes) in Mesquite.
In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Mesquite has decreased by 5.8%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Mesquite, aiding residents in assessing whether it is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. These crime rates are categorized into two primary groups: violent and property crimes. Year-over-year, violent crime has increased by 3.3%, while property crime has decreased by 7.2%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Mesquite is a safe place to live.
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 Mesquite crime rates. In Mesquite, the poverty rate stands at 12.2%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.
In Mesquite, 75.7% 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.
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. Mesquite has a median home price of $287,810, deviating from the national average of $326,622. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

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| Item | Mesquite | Texas | National |
| Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians) | 293 | 46,020 | 558,732 |
| Police officers & civilians /1000 residents | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| State | Total offenders | Texas /100K | National /100K |
| Texas | 95,281 | 443 | 266 |
| City | Population | Violent crime/100k people | Property crime/100k people | Total crime/100k people |
| Talty, TX | 2,686 | 61 | 320 | 381 |
| McLendon-Chisholm, TX | 3,631 | 74 | 389 | 463 |
| Fate, TX | 14,768 | 59 | 483 | 542 |
| Heath, TX | 9,311 | 102 | 441 | 543 |
| Combine, TX | 2,635 | 125 | 655 | 780 |
| Forney, TX | 24,467 | 156 | 652 | 808 |
| Sachse, TX | 26,435 | 72 | 738 | 810 |
| Mesquite, TX | 148,020 | 501 | 2,976 | 3,478 |
| City | Population | Violent crime/100k people | Property crime/100k people | Total crime/100k people |
| Thornton, CO | 147,633 | 274 | 2,836 | 3,109 |
| Savannah, GA | 148,994 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| Paterson, NJ | 149,118 | 979 | 2,351 | 3,330 |
| McAllen, TX | 146,651 | 150 | 1,836 | 1,986 |
| Bridgeport, CT | 149,398 | 393 | 1,469 | 1,862 |
| Mesquite, TX | 148,020 | 501 | 2,976 | 3,478 |