A+
49%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
67%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
46%
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 peopleLake Forest/100k peopleCalifornia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime1,005n/a (estimate)1,1762,8432,324
Murder0n/a0.05.76.3
Rape11n/a12.937.440.0
Robbery35n/a40.9123.566.1
Assault58n/a67.9332.8268.2
Violent crime104n/a (estimate)122500370
Burglary124n/a145.1371.9269.8
Theft652n/a762.81,499.31,401.9
Vehicle theft125n/a146.2471.9282.7
Property crime901n/a (estimate)1,0542,3431,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Lake Forest, CA

When we analyze the latest crime report, the Lake Forest crime rate is 49.4% lower than the national average. These incidents are classified into two primary categories: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include assault, robbery, rape and murder. Whereas property crimes encompass theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In the case of Lake Forest, there were 104 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 122 per 100,000 individuals, 67.1% lower than the national average. Additionally, Lake Forest recorded 901 property crimes, amounting to 1054 per 100,000 residents, 46.1% lower than the U.S. average.

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

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Lake Forest?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Lake Forest residents. Out of the respondents (25 in total), 80% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Lake Forest were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 20% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Lake Forest a Safe Place to Live?

Is Lake Forest a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Lake Forest has a crime rate that is lower than the national average by 49%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 2.75 daily incidents, encompassing 0.28 violent crimes and 2.47 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Lake Forest as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Lake Forest Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Lake Forest has increased by 6.4%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Lake Forest, 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 9.5%, while property crime has increased by 6%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Lake Forest is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Lake Forest

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. Lake Forest currently has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, 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.

Escalating cost of living expenses, encompassing exorbitant housing costs, grocery and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards criminal activities, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Lake Forest, the cost of living is 60.73% higher than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

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. Lake Forest has a median home price of $682,700, 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.

Lake Forest crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Lake Forest crime rates are 49% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Lake Forest are 67% lower than the national average
      • In Lake Forest you have a 1 in 86 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Lake Forest is safer than 68% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Lake Forest has increased by 8%

      Lake Forest, CA Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Lake Forest (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Lake Forest for every 100,000 residents. The Lake Forest total amount of daily crime is 2.42 times less than the California average and 1.98 times less than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Lake Forest, is 4.11 times less than the California average, and it is 3.04 times less than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Lake Forest has a daily crime average that is 2.22 times less than the California average and 1.85 times less than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Lake Forest (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Lake Forest to every other city in California, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Lake Forest safe? The gauges above illustrate that Lake Forest is safer than 89% of every city located within California along with 68% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in California and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Lake Forest, CA is ranked above average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Lake Forest

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Lake Forest is 1 in 822
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Lake Forest is 1 in 95
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Lake Forest is 1 in 86
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Lake Forest? In Lake Forest, you have a 1 in 822 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 95. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Lake Forest, CA is 1 in 86.

        Year Over Year Crime In Lake Forest (per 100,000 people)

        The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Lake Forest, CA is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Lake Forest has increased by 11%, while the property crime rate in Lake Forest has increased by 7% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Lake Forest has increased by 8% with regards to total crimes year over year.

        Lake Forest police department

        Item Lake Forest 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
        Rancho Santa Margarita, CA48,28038469508
        Laguna Woods, CA16,05623522545
        Aliso Viejo, CA50,38585682767
        Las Flores, CA5,089163762925
        Villa Park, CA5,88335893928
        Coto de Caza, CA15,5091908931,083
        Laguna Niguel, CA65,048951,0451,140
        Lake Forest, CA84,6661221,0541,176

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Largo, FL84,6663612,2872,648
        Danbury, CT84,6501381,3061,443
        Hemet, CA84,6864612,0632,524
        Bloomington, IN84,6915082,3392,846
        New Braunfels, TX84,6221881,4141,602
        Lake Forest, CA84,6661221,0541,176
        Source: The Lake Forest, 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.