LA crime rate falls in first quarter

Some neighborhoods see a massive drop, others a surge
Crime
By and

There were 50,274 crimes reported in the City of Los Angeles in the first quarter of this year — an 8% dip from the same period the previous year.

 

For burglaries and burglary attempts, the dip has been even steeper, falling by 13% from the first quarter of 2018. Homicides are down by 15%.

 

However, the City of Los Angeles, with over four million inhabitants spread out over 500 square miles, is a big place, and people’s experience with public safety can vary dramatically. In Bel Air, for instance, overall reported crimes fell by 55% — the most improved of any neighborhood. Playa del Rey on the other hand saw a 67% increase.

 

“Factors such as changes in population density and relationships with law enforcement can have a big impact on the crime rates in LA’s neighborhoods,” said Vickie Jensen, a criminologist and the department chair of Criminology and Justice Studies at California State University, Northridge. “If more people decided to move into Playa Vista and that caused a higher population density, that could just statistically create more opportunity for crime.”

 

We examined crimes reported to the LAPD for 110 Los Angeles neighborhoods from Jan. 1 – March 31, 2019 and ranked them according to crime rate. Downtown had the highest crime rate in the city while Bel Air had the lowest.

 

Sort by:

1/1/19-3/31/19 Crime Rate

Neighborhood

1/1/18 – 3/31/18 Crime Rate

Percent Change

Rank Neighborhood Jan. 1 – March 31, 2019 Crime Rate Jan. 1 – March 31, 2018 Crime Rate Percent Change
1 Adams Normandie 1105 1289 -14%
2 Arleta 562 604 -7%
3 Arlington Heights 997 1128 -12%
4 Atwater Village 999 1392 -28%
5 Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw 2400 2575 -7%
6 Bel Air 420 932 -55%
7 Beverly Crest 621 737 -16%
8 Beverly Grove 2121 2025 5%
9 Beverlywood 64 55 16%
10 Boyle Heights 580 676 -14%
11 Brentwood 1409 1404 0%
12 Broadway-Manchester 809 901 -10%
13 Canoga Park 2207 2192 1%
14 Carthay 1455 1648 -12%
15 Central Alameda 1158 1270 -9%
16 Century City 946 1048 -10%
17 Chatsworth 1700 1781 -5%
18 Chesterfield Square 861 1051 -18%
19 Cheviot Hills 1904 2340 -19%
20 Chinatown 1040 926 12%
21 Cypress Park 1213 1191 2%
22 Del Rey 1104 1277 -14%
23 Downtown 823 853 -4%
24 Eagle Rock 6575 6561 0%
25 East Hollywood 806 827 -2%
26 Echo Park 1169 1146 2%
27 El Sereno 1170 1205 -3%
28 Elysian Park 694 884 -22%
29 Elysian Valley 1257 1676 -25%
30 Encino 824 743 11%
31 Exposition Park 947 1188 -20%
32 Fairfax 1646 1706 -3%
34 Glassell Park 1685 1731 -3%
35 Gramercy Park 68 80 -14%
36 Granada Hills 893 1038 -14%
37 Green Meadows 1463 1453 1%
38 Hancock Park 839 996 -16%
39 Harbor City 1627 1693 -4%
40 Harbor Gateway 1374 1745 -21%
41 Harvard Heights 948 1003 -5%
42 Harvard Park 1118 993 13%
43 Highland Park 1323 1611 -18%
44 Historic South Central 2473 2653 -7%
45 Hollywood 834 947 -12%
46 Hollywood Hills 1710 1628 5%
47 Hollywood Hills West 2419 2812 -14%
48 Hyde Park 1437 1597 -10%
49 Jefferson Park 1121 1246 -10%
50 Koreatown 1607 1796 -11%
51 Ladera Heights 1263 1298 -3%
52 Lake Balboa 1279 1366 -6%
53 Lake View Terrace 708 1136 -38%
54 Larchmont 545 840 -35%
55 Leimert Park 919 1082 -15%
56 Lincoln Heights 1854 2483 -25%
57 Los Feliz 1333 1253 6%
58 Manchester Square 1093 1155 -5%
59 Mar Vista 1902 1824 4%
60 Mid-City 579 719 -19%
61 Mid-Wilshire 1255 1465 -14%
62 Mission Hills 1160 1359 -15%
63 Montecito Heights 1131 1504 -25%
64 Mount Washington 750 784 -4%
65 North Hills 711 535 33%
66 North Hollywood 947 1200 -21%
67 Northridge 1329 1596 -17%
68 Pacific Palisades 1075 1220 -12%
69 Pacoima 548 636 -14%
70 Palms 880 1053 -16%
71 Panorama City 852 859 -1%
72 Pico-Robertson 1015 1195 -15%
73 Pico Union 967 1136 -15%
74 Playa del Rey 1531 1593 -4%
75 Playa Vista 936 560 67%
76 Porter Ranch 1141 1294 -12%
77 Rancho Park 472 661 -28%
78 Reseda 832 1067 -22%
79 San Pedro 827 1024 -19%
80 Sawtelle 1037 1203 -14%
81 Shadow Hills 1206 1255 -4%
82 Sherman Oaks 692 1100 -37%
83 Silver Lake 1067 1079 -1%
84 South Park 1292 1170 10%
85 Studio City 1524 1533 -1%
86 Sun Valley 1327 1430 -7%
87 Sunland 1199 1303 -8%
88 Sylmar 801 1020 -21%
89 Tarzana 751 812 -8%
90 Toluca Lake 1190 1121 6%
91 Tujunga 1055 1088 -3%
92 University Park* 582 790 -26%
93 Valley Glen 1957 1998 -2%
94 Valley Village 1084 1166 -7%
95 Van Nuys 1154 1192 -3%
96 Venice 1319 1366 -3%
97 Vermont Slauson 2200 1941 13%
98 Vermont Knolls 2283 2496 -9%
99 Vermont Square 2143 2381 -10%
100 Vermont Vista 1685 1549 9%
101 View Park Windsor Hills 1952 2164 -10%
102 Watts 1273 1422 -10%
103 West Adams 1589 1327 20%
104 West Hills 840 990 -15%
105 West Los Angeles 978 1459 -33%
106 Westchester 2326 2377 -2%
107 Westlake 1370 1399 -2%
109 Westwood* 603 624 -3%
110 Wilmington 930 1150 -19%
111 Windsor Square 1091 1195 -9%
112 Winnetka 809 1037 -22%
113 Woodland Hills 1142 1270 -10%
Rank Neighborhood Jan. 1 – March 31, 2019 Crime Rate Jan. 1 – March 31, 2018 Crime Rate Percent Change
1 Downtown 6575 6561 0%
2 Fairfax 2766 2818 -2%
3 Harvard Park 2473 2653 -7%
4 Hollywood 2419 2812 -14%
5 Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw 2400 2575 -7%
6 Westchester 2326 2377 -2%
7 Vermont Knolls 2283 2496 -9%
8 Broadway-Manchester 2207 2192 1%
9 Venice 2200 1941 13%
10 Vermont Slauson 2143 2381 -10%
11 Beverly Grove 2121 2025 5%
12 University Park* 1957 1998 -2%
13 Vermont Vista 1952 2164 -10%
14 Chesterfield Square 1904 2340 -19%
15 Manchester Square 1902 1824 4%
16 Leimert Park 1854 2483 -25%
17 Historic South Central 1710 1628 5%
18 Century City 1700 1781 -5%
20 Vermont Square 1685 1549 9%
21 Exposition Park 1646 1706 -3%
22 Green Meadows 1627 1693 -4%
23 Hyde Park 1607 1796 -11%
24 West Adams 1589 1327 20%
25 Pico Union 1531 1593 -4%
26 South Park 1524 1533 -1%
27 Gramercy Park 1463 1453 1%
28 Canoga Park 1455 1648 -12%
29 Hollywood Hills 1437 1597 -10%
30 Boyle Heights 1409 1404 0%
31 Hancock Park 1374 1745 -21%
32 Westlake 1370 1399 -2%
33 Lincoln Heights 1333 1253 6%
34 North Hollywood 1329 1596 -17%
35 Studio City 1327 1430 -7%
36 Harvard Heights 1323 1611 -18%
37 Van Nuys 1319 1366 -3%
38 Silver Lake 1292 1170 10%
39 Koreatown 1279 1366 -6%
40 Watts 1273 1422 -10%
41 Jefferson Park 1263 1298 -3%
42 Elysian Park 1257 1676 -25%
43 Mid-City 1255 1465 -14%
44 Chinatown 1213 1191 2%
45 Sawtelle 1206 1255 -4%
46 Sun Valley 1199 1303 -8%
47 Tarzana 1190 1121 6%
48 Echo Park 1170 1205 -3%
49 East Hollywood 1169 1146 2%
50 Mid-Wilshire 1160 1359 -15%
51 Carthay 1158 1270 -9%
52 Valley Village 1154 1192 -3%
53 Woodland Hills 1142 1270 -10%
54 Playa Vista 1141 1294 -12%
55 Mission Hills 1131 1504 -25%
56 Hollywood Hills West 1121 1246 -10%
57 Harbor Gateway 1118 993 13%
58 Adams Normandie 1105 1289 -14%
59 Cypress Park 1104 1277 -14%
60 Los Feliz 1093 1155 -5%
61 Windsor Square 1091 1195 -9%
62 Valley Glen 1084 1166 -7%
63 Northridge 1075 1220 -12%
64 Sherman Oaks 1067 1079 -1%
65 Toluca Lake 1055 1088 -3%
66 Cheviot Hills 1040 926 12%
67 San Pedro 1037 1203 -14%
68 Panorama City 1015 1195 -15%
69 Atwater Village 999 1392 -28%
70 Arlington Heights 997 1128 -12%
71 West Los Angeles 978 1459 -33%
72 Pico-Robertson 967 1136 -15%
73 Harbor City 948 1003 -5%
74 Encino 947 1188 -20%
75 North Hills 947 1200 -21%
76 Central Alameda 946 1048 -10%
77 Playa del Rey 936 560 67%
78 Wilmington 930 1150 -19%
79 Larchmont 919 1082 -15%
80 Glassell Park 893 1038 -14%
81 Pacoima 880 1053 -16%
82 Chatsworth 861 1051 -18%
83 Palms 852 859 -1%
84 West Hills 840 990 -15%
85 Granada Hills 839 996 -16%
86 Highland Park 834 947 -12%
87 Rancho Park 832 1067 -22%
88 Reseda 827 1024 -19%
89 Elysian Valley 824 743 11%
90 Del Rey 823 853 -4%
91 Brentwood 809 901 -10%
92 Winnetka 809 1037 -22%
93 Eagle Rock 806 827 -2%
94 Sunland 801 1020 -21%
95 Sylmar 751 812 -8%
96 Montecito Heights 750 784 -4%
97 Mount Washington 711 535 33%
98 Lake Balboa 708 1136 -38%
99 El Sereno 694 884 -22%
100 Shadow Hills 692 1100 -37%
101 Beverly Crest 621 737 -16%
102 Westwood* 603 624 -3%
103 Tujunga 582 790 -26%
104 Beverlywood 580 676 -14%
105 Mar Vista 579 719 -19%
106 Arleta 562 604 -7%
107 Pacific Palisades 548 636 -14%
108 Lake View Terrace 545 840 -35%
109 Porter Ranch 472 661 -28%
110 Bel Air 420 932 -55%
Rank Neighborhood Jan. 1 – March 31, 2019 Crime Rate Jan. 1 – March 31, 2018 Crime Rate Percent Change
1 Downtown 6575 6561 0%
2 Fairfax 2766 2818 -2%
3 Hollywood 2419 2812 -14%
4 Harvard Park 2473 2653 -7%
5 Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw 2400 2575 -7%
6 Vermont Knolls 2283 2496 -9%
7 Leimert Park 1854 2483 -25%
8 Vermont Slauson 2143 2381 -10%
9 Westchester 2326 2377 -2%
10 Chesterfield Square 1904 2340 -19%
11 Broadway-Manchester 2207 2192 1%
12 Vermont Vista 1952 2164 -10%
13 Beverly Grove 2121 2025 5%
14 University Park* 1957 1998 -2%
15 Venice 2200 1941 13%
16 Manchester Square 1902 1824 4%
17 Hyde Park 1607 1796 -11%
18 Century City 1700 1781 -5%
19 Hancock Park 1374 1745 -21%
21 Exposition Park 1646 1706 -3%
22 Green Meadows 1627 1693 -4%
23 Elysian Park 1257 1676 -25%
24 Canoga Park 1455 1648 -12%
25 Historic South Central 1710 1628 5%
26 Harvard Heights 1323 1611 -18%
27 Hollywood Hills 1437 1597 -10%
28 North Hollywood 1329 1596 -17%
29 Pico Union 1531 1593 -4%
30 Vermont Square 1685 1549 9%
31 South Park 1524 1533 -1%
32 Mission Hills 1131 1504 -25%
33 Mid-City 1255 1465 -14%
34 West Los Angeles 978 1459 -33%
35 Gramercy Park 1463 1453 1%
36 Studio City 1327 1430 -7%
37 Watts 1273 1422 -10%
38 Boyle Heights 1409 1404 0%
39 Westlake 1370 1399 -2%
40 Atwater Village 999 1392 -28%
41 Koreatown 1279 1366 -6%
42 Van Nuys 1319 1366 -3%
43 Mid-Wilshire 1160 1359 -15%
44 West Adams 1589 1327 20%
45 Sun Valley 1199 1303 -8%
46 Jefferson Park 1263 1298 -3%
47 Playa Vista 1141 1294 -12%
48 Adams Normandie 1105 1289 -14%
49 Cypress Park 1104 1277 -14%
50 Woodland Hills 1142 1270 -10%
51 Carthay 1158 1270 -9%
52 Sawtelle 1206 1255 -4%
53 Lincoln Heights 1333 1253 6%
54 Hollywood Hills West 1121 1246 -10%
55 Northridge 1075 1220 -12%
56 Echo Park 1170 1205 -3%
57 San Pedro 1037 1203 -14%
58 North- Hills 947 1200 -21%
59 Windsor Square 1091 1195 -9%
60 Panorama City 1015 1195 -15%
61 Valley Village 1154 1192 -3%
62 Chinatown 1213 1191 2%
63 Encino 947 1188 -20%
64 Silver Lake 1292 1170 10%
65 Valley Glen 1084 1166 -7%
66 Los Feliz 1093 1155 -5%
67 Wilmington 930 1150 -19%
68 East Hollywood 1169 1146 2%
69 Pico-Robertson 967 1136 -15%
70 Lake Balboa 708 1136 -38%
71 Arlington Heights 997 1128 -12%
72 Tarzana 1190 1121 6%
73 Shadow Hills 692 1100 -37%
74 Toluca Lake 1055 1088 -3%
75 Larchmont 919 1082 -15%
76 Sherman Oaks 1067 1079 -1%
77 Rancho Park 832 1067 -22%
78 Pacoima 880 1053 -16%
79 Chatsworth 861 1051 -18%
80 Central Alameda 946 1048 -10%
81 Glassell Park 893 1038 -14%
82 Winnetka 809 1037 -22%
83 Reseda 827 1024 -19%
84 Sunland 801 1020 -21%
85 Harbor City 948 1003 -5%
86 Granada Hills 839 996 -16%
87 Harbor Gateway 1118 993 13%
88 West Hills 840 990 -15%
89 Highland Park 834 947 -12%
90 Bel Air 420 932 -55%
91 Cheviot Hills 1040 926 12%
92 Brentwood 809 901 -10%
93 El Sereno 694 884 -22%
94 Palms 852 859 -1%
95 Del Rey 823 853 -4%
96 Lake View Terrace 545 840 -35%
97 Eagle Rock 806 827 -2%
98 Sylmar 751 812 -8%
99 Tujunga 582 790 -26%
100 Montecito Heights 750 784 -4%
101 Elysian Valley 824 743 11%
102 Beverly Crest 621 737 -16%
103 Mar Vista 579 719 -19%
104 Beverlywood 580 676 -14%
105 Porter Ranch 472 661 -28%
106 Pacific Palisades 548 636 -14%
107 Westwood 603 624 -3%
108 Arleta 562 604 -7%
109 Playa del Rey 936 560 67%
110 Mount Washington 711 535 33%
Rank Neighborhood Jan. 1 – March 31, 2019 Crime Rate Jan. 1 – March 31, 2018 Crime Rate Percent Change
1 Playa del Rey 936 560 67%
2 Mount Washington 711 535 33%
3 West Adams 1589 1327 20%
4 Venice 2200 1941 13%
5 Harbor Gateway 1118 993 13%
6 Cheviot Hills 1040 926 12%
7 Elysian Valley 824 743 11%
8 Silver Lake 1292 1170 10%
9 Vermont Square 1685 1549 9%
10 Lincoln Heights 1333 1253 6%
11 Tarzana 1190 1121 6%
12 Historic South Central 1710 1628 5%
13 Beverly Grove 2121 2025 5%
14 Manchester Square 1902 1824 4%
15 East Hollywood 1169 1146 2%
16 Chinatown 1213 1191 2%
17 Gramercy Park 1463 1453 1%
18 Broadway-Manchester 2207 2192 1%
19 Boyle Heights 1409 1404 0%
20 Downtown 6575 6561 0%
21 South Park 1524 1533 -1%
22 Palms 852 859 -1%
23 Sherman Oaks 1067 1079 -1%
24 Fairfax 2766 2818 -2%
25 University Park* 1957 1998 -2%
26 Westlake 1370 1399 -2%
27 Westchester 2326 2377 -2%
28 Eagle Rock 806 827 -2%
30 Jefferson Park 1263 1298 -3%
31 Echo Park 1170 1205 -3%
32 Toluca Lake 1055 1088 -3%
33 Valley Village 1154 1192 -3%
34 Westwood 603 624 -3%
35 Van Nuys 1319 1366 -3%
36 Exposition Park 1646 1706 -3%
37 Del Rey 823 853 -4%
38 Pico Union 1531 1593 -4%
39 Green Meadows 1627 1693 -4%
40 Sawtelle 1206 1255 -4%
41 Montecito Heights 750 784 -4%
42 Century City 1700 1781 -5%
43 Harbor City 948 1003 -5%
44 Los Feliz 1093 1155 -5%
45 Koreatown 1279 1366 -6%
46 Harvard Park 2473 2653 -7%
47 Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw 2400 2575 -7%
48 Arleta 562 604 -7%
49 Valley Glen 1084 1166 -7%
50 Studio City 1327 1430 -7%
51 Sylmar 751 812 -8%
52 Sun Valley 1199 1303 -8%
53 Vermont Knolls 2283 2496 -9%
54 Windsor Square 1091 1195 -9%
55 Carthay 1158 1270 -9%
56 Central Alameda 946 1048 -10%
57 Vermont Vista 1952 2164 -10%
58 Hollywood Hills 1437 1597 -10%
59 Vermont Slauson 2143 2381 -10%
60 Hollywood Hills West 1121 1246 -10%
61 Woodland Hills 1142 1270 -10%
62 Brentwood 809 901 -10%
63 Watts 1273 1422 -10%
64 Hyde Park 1607 1796 -11%
65 Arlington Heights 997 1128 -12%
66 Canoga Park 1455 1648 -12%
67 Playa Vista 1141 1294 -12%
68 Northridge 1075 1220 -12%
69 Highland Park 834 947 -12%
70 Cypress Park 1104 1277 -14%
71 San Pedro 1037 1203 -14%
72 Pacific Palisades 548 636 -14%
73 Hollywood 2419 2812 -14%
74 Glassell Park 893 1038 -14%
75 Adams Normandie 1105 1289 -14%
76 Beverlywood 580 676 -14%
77 Mid-City 1255 1465 -14%
78 Mid-Wilshire 1160 1359 -15%
79 Pico-Robertson 967 1136 -15%
80 Panorama City 1015 1195 -15%
81 Larchmont 919 1082 -15%
82 West Hills 840 990 -15%
83 Beverly Crest 621 737 -16%
84 Granada Hills 839 996 -16%
85 Pacoima 880 1053 -16%
86 North Hollywood 1329 1596 -17%
87 Harvard Heights 1323 1611 -18%
88 Chatsworth 861 1051 -18%
89 Chesterfield Square 1904 2340 -19%
90 Wilmington 930 1150 -19%
91 Reseda 827 1024 -19%
92 Mar Vista 579 719 -19%
93 Encino 947 1188 -20%
94 North Hills 947 1200 -21%
95 Hancock Park 1374 1745 -21%
96 Sunland 801 1020 -21%
97 El Sereno 694 884 -22%
98 Winnetka 809 1037 -22%
99 Rancho Park 832 1067 -22%
100 Mission Hills 1131 1504 -25%
101 Elysian Park 1257 1676 -25%
102 Leimert Park 1854 2483 -25%
103 Tujunga 582 790 -26%
104 Atwater Village 999 1392 -28%
105 Porter Ranch 472 661 -28%
107 West Los Angeles 978 1459 -33%
108 Lake View Terrace 545 840 -35%
109 Shadow Hills 692 1100 -37%
110 Lake Balboa 708 1136 -38%
111 Bel Air 420 932 -55%

 

*designates areas patrolled by more than one law enforcement agency.

 

The crime rate is calculated by dividing the total number of reported crimes by the population of that neighborhood and then multiplying that number by 100,000.

 

We broke out the crime rate for each neighborhood to provide residents with a more nuanced understanding of how public safety is playing out across the city. You can read our neighborhood breakdown of burglary rates here.

 

For our calculations, we looked at reports of all crimes, from assault to vandalism. However, whether a neighborhood feels safe to its residents depends as much on perception as on actual data. In our analysis, we did not differentiate between property and violent crimes. Sometimes a neighborhood may have a low general crime rate but a higher number of violent crimes. Such an area might be less safe than one with a higher overall rate but fewer violent offenses.

 

For neighborhood boundaries, we rely on the borders defined by the Los Angeles Times.  Learn more about our data here.

LAPD data only reflects crimes that are reported to the department, not how many crimes actually occurred. In making our calculations, we rely on the data that the LAPD makes publicly available. On occasion, LAPD may update past crime reports with new information, or recategorize past reports. Those revised reports do not always automatically become part of the public database.