As far as large American cities go, the Dallas Fort Worth metropolitan area has always been considered relatively safe. That’s not to say that crime is non-existent, but the distinction is often made in relation to other cities of the same size throughout the United States.
But new data published recently suggests this might not actually be the case.
Using data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s uniform crime report (FBI.GOV), particularly statistics regarding murders, assaults, rapes, robberies and motor vehicle thefts, on-line sites like www.safety.com have suggested that Dallas is not as safe as is commonly believed.
Along with Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami and Houston, the sites ranks the Dallas/Fort Worth area as one of the “most surprisingly dangerous big cities in America.”
The online advocacy group points out that the city’s per capita murder rate of 9.8 per 100,000 residents is a bit lower than other cities on the list, but that other crime rate markers such as rapes (43.5 per 100,000) caused it to be included on American cities that are more dangerous than widely believed by the public.
But while the Dallas/Fort Worth area may not be as safe as the public perception makes it out to be, it’s still far from being the hotbed for crime that other cities like Chicago and New York are.
Let’s take a deeper look at the Dallas/Fort Worth crime rate:
Overall, the crime rate is the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area is 359 per 100,000 people, In comparison, America’s fourth largest city of Houston has a crime rate of 577 per 100,000.
As for the property crime rate, Dallas/Fort Worth comes in at 2,471 per 100,000 residents. This is also lower than Houston, which is 2,918, but actually higher than Chicago and Philadelphia, at 2,056 and 2,166, respectively.
So while the current crime rate is higher than city officials would like, it is significantly lower than in years past. In 2002, for example, the property crime rate in the city of Dallas was 5,196 per 100,000 people, more than double the rate in the most recently available statistics.
Violent crime was also the highest during that same time period, topping out at 6,987 per 100,000 in 2001. This statistical area improved dramatically in the decade-and-a-half since that high water mark, with the rate coming it at only 359 per 100,000 in 2016.
Turning to the murder rate, this figure comes in at 12.5 per 100,000 residents, which puts the city in the 25th position of deadliest cities in the United States. Rapes, robberies and other violent crimes all rank higher in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area than their respective national averages.
As such, the chance of being of victim of crime in Dallas is much higher than in most of the United States. So precaution is advised in and near the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.
And if you have been a victim of crime, or suspect you could become a victim, hiring a bodyguard an/or experienced private investigator is certainly an option to consider.
Why Hire Dallas Security or a Private Investigator?
Our Dallas Private Investigator professionals have undergone training as bodyguards and have been licensed by the State of Texas to carry firearms, if needed. With violent crime on the rise, and with the Dallas/Fort Worth area seeing spikes in several types of criminal activity, it’s always a good idea to protect yourself and your family.
So be aware of your surroundings, take precautions when going outside, particularly if you’re by yourself, and use common sense when out on the city streets. Bodyguards and also our private investigator Dallas team can provide personal and executive safety when needed.
And remember, as recommended by one of our Dallas PI team, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to personal safety.
