Crime

Definition

Crime Rate - combined violent and property crime rates per 100,000 population

Why is it Important?

Community safety is important for the stability and security of the St. Louis region. Crime not only harms victims and their families, but also reduces perceptions of community safety and prevents the creation of a vibrant society – one with a thriving economy and strong social bonds.

How are we Doing?

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2016 and 2017 violent crime data as well as 2018 property crime data are not reported for the St. Louis MSA because the FBI determined that one or more of the reporting agencies in the region overreported and/or underreported. Therefore this indicator cannot be updated with 2016 through 2018 data. Property crimes make up a majority of total crimes (violent and property combined). The property crime rate in the region declined about 2 percent from 2016 to 2017 and 23 percent since 2010.

The total crime rate in the St. Louis region declined from the baseline of 3,657 crimes per 100,000 population in 2010 to 3,019 crimes per 100,000 in 2015, but the rate increased over 5 percent from 2014 to 2015.¹ From 2003 to 2015, the total crime rate declined 31 percent. The decline in the long-term crime rate mirrors the national trend, which declined by 30 percent from 2003 to 2015. As of 2015, the crime rate in the St. Louis region is about the same as the national crime rate of 2,962 crimes per 100,000 residents.

The change in the total crime rate is in large part due to the decrease in property crimes, which follows the same trend with a 35 percent decrease from 2003 to 2015 in St. Louis. The violent crime rate in the region has fluctuated more with annual increases from 2003 to 2006, followed by mostly annual decreases through 2014 and a spike in 2015. From 2015 to 2018, the rate of violent crimes decreased 6.4 percent. However, the rate in 2018 (455.1 crimes per 100,000 residents) was larger than it was in 2014 (429.8).

Among the 50 most populous regions in the country for which there is data, St. Louis had the 21^st largest property crime rate in 2017, slightly higher than that of the United States, and had the 11^th largest violent crime rate in 2018.

Geographic Level

St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). View map.

Notes

¹Violent crime includes murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crime includes burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. Due to lack of data availability the 2009 forcible rape statistic (included in the violent and total crime rates) for the St. Louis region is based on the average of the 2008 and 2010 forcible rape statistics.

Data Sources

Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation