Los Angeles, a sprawling city with diverse neighborhoods and communities, experiences varying crime patterns that shape its public safety landscape. The city’s 2025 annual crime report showed major progress, with homicides dropping to a 60-year low.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) compiles crime statistics that provide vital insights into the effectiveness of law enforcement strategies, neighborhood safety trends, and the overall security situation faced by residents and businesses across the city of Los Angeles.
In this comprehensive analysis, we examine the latest crime data from Los Angeles to present a clear picture of current safety realities across the county and how they compare to other major cities in the nation.
Updated Los Angeles Crime Data Statistics & Trends for 2026
19% Drop in Homicides Hits Lowest Level Since 1966
Los Angeles recorded 230 homicides in 2025, down 19% from 284 in 2024, the lowest total since 1966. The homicide rate fell to 5.9 per 100,000 residents. Gang-related homicides dropped 4% (100 vs. 104 in 2024), and GRYD zones saw a 27% reduction in homicides for a second consecutive year. However, homeless-related homicides rose 20% to 61 cases.
Property Crime Shows Mixed Results Across Neighborhoods
The landscape of property crime saw fluctuations in 2024, with an overall decrease of 7,259 cases (6.7%), including reductions in burglary (7.1%) and motor vehicle theft (7.3%), though experiences vary significantly by neighborhood. The Los Angeles Police continue to make recovering stolen property a top priority in affected areas.
Downtown LA and South Los Angeles Remain Areas of Concern
Despite citywide improvements, Downtown LA and South Los Angeles continue to experience higher crime rates, with Downtown recording 17 homicides in a recent reporting period, highlighting the geographic disparities in safety across the city. The Central Bureau continues to focus efforts on these high-need communities.
Law Enforcement Shows Increased Activity with 4.4% More Arrests
An overall uptick of 4.4% in arrests in 2024 indicates more proactive law enforcement, though the effectiveness varies by crime category, with some types seeing increased enforcement while others show different patterns. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell noted there’s “much more work to be done” despite these positive trends.
Shooting Victims Down 8% as LAPD Seizes 8,650 Firearms
Shooting victims declined from 981 in 2024 to 899 in 2025, an 8% decrease. LAPD seized 8,650 firearms in 2025, up more than 1,000 from the prior year, which officials credited as a direct factor in reducing shootings and homicides. Firearms remain involved in 75% of homicides.
Homicide Clearance Rate Reaches 68% with 76 Cold Cases Solved
LAPD cleared 156 of 230 homicide cases (68%) in 2025 and solved an additional 76 cold cases from prior years. Including cold cases, the department achieved a 101% overall clearance rate, meaning more homicides were resolved than occurred that year.
$36 Million in Stolen Goods Recovered from Retail Theft Operations
Law enforcement recovered over $36 million in stolen property in 2024, making 427 arrests linked to retail theft rings, highlighting the scale of organized crime affecting Los Angeles businesses. Thefts of this nature have been trending upward in several major cities across the country.
Community Programs Show 40% Homicide Reduction in Participating Areas
Community-focused programs like the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program contributed to a 40% homicide reduction in participating neighborhoods, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted intervention strategies. These programs address the root causes of violent crime in vulnerable communities.
Fentanyl Emerges as Growing Concern with Hollywood as New Hotspot
Fentanyl remains a growing concern, with a 250% increase in related arrests since 2023 and Hollywood emerging as a new hotspot. However, LA County overdose deaths fell 22% in 2024 (from 3,137 to 2,438), the sharpest single-year decline in county history. Fentanyl-specific deaths dropped 37%.
Traffic Deaths Drop 6% but Still Exceed Homicides for Third Straight Year
Fatal traffic collisions killed 290 people in 2025, a 6% decrease from 2024. More than 150 of those involved pedestrians. For the third consecutive year, traffic deaths (290) exceeded homicides (230), and the city remains far from its Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities.
Los Angeles Crime Rate: Is It High Compared to National Averages?
Measuring Los Angeles Crime Rates in Context
Los Angeles currently has a crime rate of approximately 3,115 crimes per 100,000 residents based on 2024 data, which is 29.7% higher than the national average. Violent crime occurs at a rate of about 761 per 100,000 people, while property crime rates stand at roughly 2,354 per 100,000 residents.
When compared to cities of similar population size, Los Angeles ranks 9th among the 35 largest U.S. cities for its overall crime rate. The city’s crime index value is 28 (on a scale where 100 represents the safest), indicating that Los Angeles is safer than only 28% of U.S. cities across the nation.
For context, the most dangerous areas report rates exceeding 5,000 crimes per square mile, while the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles experience rates below 1,500 per 100,000.
Geographic Variations in Crime Rates Across Los Angeles
Crime rates vary dramatically across Los Angeles neighborhoods:
| Neighborhood | Violent Crime Rate (per 100k) | Property Crime Rates (per 100k) | Total Crime Rate (per 100k) |
| Downtown | 2,437 | 7,289 | 9,726 |
| Westlake | 1,842 | 3,921 | 5,763 |
| Skid Row | 4,012 | 5,301 | 9,313 |
| Bel Air | 217 | 1,253 | 1,470 |
| Pacific Palisades | 183 | 1,116 | 1,299 |
| Brentwood | 241 | 1,389 | 1,630 |
This data illustrates the stark contrast between high-crime areas like Downtown and Skid Row compared to affluent western neighborhoods like Bel Air and Pacific Palisades, where reported crimes are significantly lower.
Is Crime Up or Down in Los Angeles? Analyzing the 5-Year Trend
Violent Crime Shows Consistent Improvement Since 2021 Peak
Violent crime in Los Angeles has been on a downward trajectory since 2021, when the city recorded 402 homicides during the pandemic peak. The trend accelerated in 2025 with a 19% reduction in homicides and an 8% decrease in shooting victims compared to 2024. At 230 homicides, the city hit its lowest count in nearly 60 years.
Five-Year Crime Trend Analysis (2020-2026)
| Crime Category | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 5-Year Trend |
| Homicide | 351 | 402 | 382 | 306 | 264 | ↓24.8% |
| Rape | 2,436 | 2,459 | 2,507 | 2,263 | 2,166 | ↓11.1% |
| Robbery | 9,521 | 9,146 | 8,712 | 8,693 | 8,637 | ↓9.3% |
| Aggravated Assault | 21,273 | 21,634 | 20,783 | 20,112 | 17,741 | ↓16.6% |
| Property Crime | 108,235 | 114,453 | 113,271 | 108,952 | 101,693 | ↓6.0% |
| Total Violent Crime | 33,581 | 33,641 | 32,384 | 31,374 | 28,808 | ↓14.2% |
The crime data shows a clear improving trend across most crime categories over the five-year period, with the most significant decrease occurring in violent crime categories, particularly homicide and aggravated assault.
Property Crime Fluctuations Show More Complex Pattern
While property crime also shows an overall decrease of 6% over the five-year period, the pattern has been less consistent than violent crime:
Property crime peaked in 2021 with 114,453 incidents, then began a gradual decline, accelerating in 2024 with a 6.7% year-over-year reduction compared to 2023. However, this trend varies significantly by neighborhood and category, with some areas continuing to face challenges with specific types of property crime, such as auto theft and burglary.
Month-to-Month Variations in 2026-2026
Current COMPSTAT data shows monthly fluctuations in crime rates across different categories:
| Crime Type | August 2023 | December 2023 | Difference | February 2025 | Difference |
| Personal/Other Thefts | 1927 | 2546 | 6.19 | 2133 | -4.13 |
| Burglary | 1070 | 1258 | 1.88 | 1113 | -1.45 |
| Rape | 75 | 70 | -0.05 | 69 | -0.01 |
| Aggravated Assaults | 1509 | 1361 | -1.48 | 1304 | -0.57 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2153 | 2071 | -0.82 | 2036 | -0.35 |
| Homicide | 31 | 22 | -0.09 | 21 | -0.01 |
| Robbery | 718 | 644 | -0.74 | 658 | 0.14 |
These month-to-month variations highlight the dynamic nature of crime trends in Los Angeles, with seasonal fluctuations affecting different crime categories throughout the year. Reporting errors can occasionally impact these figures, according to the Department.
How Many Murders in California Last Year?
California Homicide Statistics Across Major Cities
California recorded approximately 1,880 homicides in 2024, a 12.3% decrease from 2,144 in 2023. The decline continued into 2025, with California’s homicide rate falling to historic lows according to CalMatters. Governor Newsom cited Los Angeles specifically, noting the city reached its lowest homicide total since 1966.
Los Angeles accounted for 264 of these homicides (14% of the state total), while other major California cities contributed the following:
| City | 2024 Homicides | % Change from 2023 |
| Los Angeles | 264 | -14.0% |
| San Francisco | 51 | -5.5% |
| San Diego | 39 | -18.7% |
| Sacramento | 43 | -10.4% |
| Oakland | 119 | +3.4% |
| Fresno | 57 | -6.5% |
| Long Beach | 35 | -12.5% |
| San Jose | 31 | -8.8% |
The data shows most major California cities experienced reductions in homicides in 2024, with Oakland being a notable exception with a slight increase. San Diego showed one of the largest improvements in the state.
Homicide Rate Comparison Across California
California’s homicide rate declined to 4.3 per 100,000 residents by end of 2024
- 14.3% lower than the national average of 5.6 per 100,000
- 18.1% higher than the average for western states (4.1 per 100,000)
- Significantly lower than the peak rate of 12.5 per 100,000 recorded in 1993
Los Angeles County specifically recorded 649 homicides in 2024, accounting for 34.5% of California’s total despite containing about 25% of the state’s population.
Demographic and Geographic Distribution of California Homicides
California’s homicide victims in 2024 showed the following demographic patterns:
- 77.3% male, 22.7% female
- Age distribution: 15-29 (38.6%), 30-44 (31.4%), 45+ (22.7%), Under 15 (7.3%)
- Geographic concentration: 58.4% occurred in urban areas, 29.1% in suburban areas, 12.5% in rural areas
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report provides additional context for these statistics on a national level.
Is the Crime Rate in Los Angeles Better Than Miami?
Comparative Crime Analysis: Los Angeles vs. Miami in 2026-2026
When comparing Los Angeles to Miami, the overall picture shows mixed results depending on the crime category:
| Crime Category | Los Angeles Rate (per 100k) | Miami Rate (per 100k) | % Difference |
| Overall Crime Rate | 3,115 | 4,763 | LA is 34.6% lower |
| Violent Crime Rate | 761 | 627 | LA is 21.4% higher |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,354 | 4,136 | LA is 43.1% lower |
| Homicide Rate | 6.7 | 13.9 | LA is 51.8% lower |
| Robbery Rate | 219 | 227 | LA is 3.5% lower |
| Assault Rate | 467 | 329 | LA is 41.9% higher |
| Burglary Rate | 328 | 603 | LA is 45.6% lower |
| Theft Rate | 1,552 | 2,831 | LA is 45.2% lower |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 474 | 702 | LA is 32.5% lower |
This data shows that Los Angeles has a significantly lower overall crime rate than Miami, primarily due to much lower property crime rates. However, Los Angeles experiences higher rates of violent crime, particularly aggravated assault.
Safety Perception and Quality of Life Comparison
While statistics provide one perspective, resident and visitor perceptions offer another dimension:
- Los Angeles residents report a 56% feeling of safety when walking alone during daylight, compared to 68% in Miami
- Night safety perception is 27% in Los Angeles versus 36% in Miami
- Los Angeles has a lower poverty rate (16.9%) than Miami (22.3%), which correlates with certain crime patterns
- Miami’s higher tourism concentration contributes to its elevated property crime rates, particularly theft
Neighborhood Safety Variance
Both cities show significant neighborhood-by-neighborhood variation in crime rates:
- Los Angeles’ safest neighborhoods (Bel Air, Pacific Palisades) have crime rates comparable to the safest in Miami (Coconut Grove, Coral Gables)
- Los Angeles’ highest-crime areas (parts of Downtown, Skid Row) generally report lower violent crime rates than Miami’s highest-crime neighborhoods (Liberty City, Overtown)
- Miami’s tourist areas experience significantly higher property crime rates than comparable Los Angeles tourist destinations
Top 10 Most Surprising Los Angeles Crime Statistics
1. Dramatically Reduced Homicide Rate
Los Angeles witnessed a notable decline in violent crime in 2024, with homicides decreasing by 14% compared to 2023 and an impressive 34.3% reduction from the pandemic-era peak in 2021. This trend has continued into early 2025, showcasing the effectiveness of targeted intervention strategies including those addressing homeless-related homicides and gang-related homicides.
2. Geographic Crime Distribution Reveals Stark Contrasts
Crime distribution across Los Angeles neighborhoods shows extreme variation, with a 7.5-fold difference between the highest and lowest crime areas. Downtown LA recorded 17 homicides in a recent reporting period, while numerous westside neighborhoods recorded zero, highlighting how location significantly impacts safety statistics.
3. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Connection
LAPD analysts have identified strong connections between crime trends and societal issues, with the alarming surge in fentanyl use ] a 250% increase in related arrests since 2023. The drug is now implicated in 68% of overdose deaths in Los Angeles, with Hollywood emerging as a new hotspot for related criminal activity.
“The interconnection between mental health challenges, substance abuse (particularly fentanyl), and criminal activity represents one of the most complex public safety challenges facing Los Angeles in 2025.”
-Los Angeles Crime Analysis Report
4. Motor Vehicle Theft Trends Show Technological Evolution
While motor vehicle theft decreased by 7.3% in 2024, the methods have evolved significantly. The emergence of sophisticated techniques, including electronic key cloning and Wi-Fi jammers that disable GPS trackers, has transformed auto theft into a more technologically advanced crime.
5. Catalytic Converter Theft Remains a Persistent Challenge
Despite overall improvements in property crime statistics, catalytic converter theft remains a specific concern, with thousands of incidents reported annually. Toyota Prius models continue to be the most targeted vehicles, accounting for 31% of all catalytic converter thefts in Los Angeles.
6. Gun Violence Reduction Through Strategic Enforcement
Gun violence data for 2024 showed 1,374 reports of shots fired, marking a 17.8% decrease from the previous year. The Los Angeles Police Department’s seizure of 7,634 illegal firearms, including 790 ghost guns, demonstrates the impact of targeted enforcement on reducing firearm-related crimes.
7. Dramatic Differences in Robbery Patterns
A decline of 16.6% in robberies in 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels represents significant progress, though with a striking pattern: residential robberies decreased by 24.3% while commercial robberies declined by only 8.7%, showing the different trajectories of crime types within the same category.
8. Neighborhood Homicide Distribution Reveals Safety Disparities
Homicide data shows dramatic geographic disparities, with certain areas experiencing disproportionate levels of violence. The table below shows homicide data from a recent reporting period:
| Neighborhood | Number of Homicides (Recent Reporting Period) |
| Downtown LA | 17 |
| Westlake | 11 |
| Boyle Heights | 9 |
| Broadway-Manchester | 5 |
| El Sereno | 5 |
| Florence | 5 |
| Vermont Square | 5 |
| Watts | 5 |
9. Arrest Demographics Show Changing Patterns
Los Angeles has maintained positive trends with over a 10% reduction in violent crimes compared to 2022, while arrest demographics show evolving patterns. There’s been a significant reduction in juvenile arrests (-18.7%) while arrests of individuals over 50 have increased by 11.3%, representing a substantial shift in offender demographics.
10. Firearms Remain Dominant in Violent Crimes Despite Overall Reductions
Despite improvements in overall crime rates, firearms remain the primary weapon in violent crimes, being involved in 75% of homicides and 57% of robberies. This persistence highlights the ongoing challenge of illegal firearms despite the LAPD’s increased focus on weapon seizures.
Also read: California Crime Statistics
FAQs
What is high crime rate in LA?
Los Angeles has a crime rate of approximately 3,115 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 29.7% higher than the national average. This qualifies as a high crime rate when compared to the U.S. as a whole, though it varies dramatically by neighborhood. Areas like Downtown LA and Skid Row experience rates exceeding 9,000 crimes per 100,000 residents—among the highest in the nation—while affluent western neighborhoods like Bel Air and Pacific Palisades have rates below 1,500 per 100,000, which would be considered low to moderate.
Is crime up or down in Los Angeles?
Crime in Los Angeles is down overall, with a clear downward trend since the pandemic-era peak in 2021. Specific improvements in 2024 include a 14% reduction in homicides, a 19% decrease in shooting victims, and a 6.7% drop in property crimes compared to 2023. The five-year trend shows a 14.2% decrease in violent crime and a 6.0% reduction in property crime from 2020 to 2024. Early 2025 data shows this positive trend continuing in most categories and neighborhoods, though with some geographic variations.
How many murders in California last year?
California recorded approximately 1,880 homicides in 2024, representing a 12.3% decrease from the 2,144 homicides recorded in 2023. Los Angeles accounted for 264 of these homicides (14% of the state total), while Los Angeles County as a whole recorded 649 homicides (34.5% of the California total). Most major California cities experienced reductions in homicides in 2024, with Oakland being a notable exception with a slight 3.4% increase.
Is the crime rate in Los Angeles better than Miami?
Los Angeles has a significantly better overall crime rate than Miami, with Los Angeles’s rate of 3,115 per 100,000 residents being 34.6% lower than Miami’s rate of 4,763 per 100,000. However, the comparison varies by crime category. Los Angeles has a 21.4% higher violent crime rate than Miami, primarily due to more assaults, but a 43.1% lower property crime rate. Notably, Los Angeles’ homicide rate (6.7 per 100,000) is 51.8% lower than Miami’s (13.9 per 100,000), making Los Angeles significantly safer in terms of the most serious violent crime.
What is the safest city in Los Angeles County?
Cities like Glendale, Santa Clarita, and Palos Verdes Estates consistently rank among the safest in LA County based on low crime rates. Within Los Angeles proper, neighborhoods in West LA, including Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, typically experience lower crime rates than other parts of the city.
Is it safe to walk in LA at night?
Safety varies significantly by neighborhood. Well-populated, commercial areas like Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade or parts of West Hollywood generally remain active and relatively safe at night. However, exercising caution is advisable in any urban setting, especially in areas with higher crime rates or limited pedestrian activity after dark.
Where in LA is safe at night?
Areas with active nightlife, good street lighting, and continued commercial activity tend to be safer at night. These include parts of West Hollywood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Little Tokyo, and Culver City. Business districts with extended hours and regular security presence typically offer safer nighttime environments.
Is LA safer than the Bay Area?
Both regions have diverse neighborhoods with varying safety profiles. Recent data shows Los Angeles has made significant progress in reducing violent crime, with 2024 showing a 14% decrease in homicides. The comparison depends on specific cities and neighborhoods within each region, as crime rates vary substantially throughout both metropolitan areas.
Wrapping Up
The landscape of crime in Los Angeles presents a complex and nuanced picture, with significant improvements in most categories balanced against persistent challenges in specific neighborhoods and crime types.
The substantial reductions in violent crime continued in 2025, with homicides down 19% to a 60-year low of 230 and shooting victims down 8%. LAPD’s 68% homicide clearance rate and 76 cold cases solved show both prevention and investigation improving. These improvements are most pronounced in areas with active community intervention programs, highlighting the effectiveness of targeted approaches.
Geographic disparities remain perhaps the most defining characteristic of Los Angeles’s crime patterns. The stark contrast between high-crime areas like Downtown and Skid Row compared to the relative safety of western neighborhoods illustrates how location fundamentally shapes public safety experiences in the city.
The emergence of new challenges, particularly the dramatic increase in fentanyl-related crimes and the evolution of more technologically sophisticated property crimes, demonstrates how criminal activity adapts and evolves despite overall statistical improvements. The Los Angeles Police Department continues to adapt its strategies to address these emerging threats.
For those studying, reporting on, or making decisions based on Los Angeles crime data, recognizing these complexities is essential. The city’s crime landscape cannot be understood through simple “up or down” characterizations but requires a nuanced analysis of specific categories, neighborhoods, and emerging crime trends.
