An Overview of the Crime Rate in Florida

Florida is a beautiful state that provides residents with exciting attractions, pleasant weather, and relaxing beaches. However, crime can be a serious problem in many of the major cities. In places like Miami, around 2,800 property crimes occur per 100,000 residents, which is well above the state average of 1,700.

If you're wondering what city in Florida has the highest crime rate, Tallahassee experiences nearly 800 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents. The three safest cities in Florida include Palm Coast, Riverview, and The Villages. If you're preparing for a move to Florida, understanding how crime impacts the most popular cities should help you decide where to move.

Crime in Miami

Miami is a coastal metropolis in Florida that provides residents with an energetic nightlife, rich culture, and comfortable weather. Like many large cities, some areas are safer than others when it comes to violent crime and property crime.

The violent crime rate in Miami is around 463.5 for every 100,000 residents, which is roughly 200 higher than the Florida average. As for the property crime rate, it's more than 2,800 for every 100,000 residents. The safest neighborhoods and areas in Miami include Kendale Lakes South, Tamiami Trail, and Lindgren Acres.

Crime in Pensacola

Pensacola is another coastal city that's at the westernmost portion of the Florida panhandle. This popular tourist destination offers sandy beaches and fun outdoor activities for anyone who lives there.

In Pensacola, both types of crime are more prevalent than the state average. There are around 622 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents. The number of property crimes in the area is upwards of 2,800 per 100,000 residents. Pensacola Station, Brent, and Mallory Heights are a few of the safer destinations in the city.

Crime in Tampa

As part of Florida's Gulf Coast, Tampa is a bustling city with historic neighborhoods, adventurous amusement parks, and delicious eateries that boast menus of many different cuisines.

If you're planning a move to Tampa, keep in mind these crime rates: violent crime rate is around 562 for every 100,000 residents, which is slightly lower than the Miami average, and the property crime rate is just 1,564 per 100,000 residents, which is less than the Florida average. The safest neighborhoods in Tampa include New Tampa East, Keystone South, and Carrollwood Village.

Crime in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is a beautiful beach city that offers fun outdoor activities and top-rated restaurants. It's also home to the Salvador Dali Museum. The pleasant and sunny weather that's available all year round makes St. Petersburg the perfect destination for golfing, fishing, and boating activities.

When considering the crime rate in the area, this city is most similar to Pensacola. Just under 700 violent crimes take place for every 100,000 residents. Another 2,546 property crimes occur for the same number of residents. If you're searching for the safest places to live, consider areas like Bay Pines Terrace, Harbor Isle, and Tierra Verde.

Crime in Orlando

Orlando is a top tourist destination in Florida that provides residents with easy access to over a dozen theme parks, the most famous of which is Walt Disney World. The city is also a major tech and industrial center.

Crime rates in Orlando are fairly high, which is partially due to the number of theme parks and tourist attractions. The average crime rate for the city is around 826 violent crimes and 3,500 property crimes for every 100,000 residents. A few of the safer areas and neighborhoods in the city include University East, Wedgefield, and Storey Park.

Vehicle theft in Florida

Though every type of crime occurs in Florida, vehicle theft is more prevalent than most. In 2022, criminals stole nearly 46,000 vehicles in Florida, which puts it in fourth place out of the top 10 states with the highest number of stolen vehicles.

While the city you live in plays some role in determining how likely it is that your vehicle is ever stolen, this type of theft is always possible. However, you can protect your investment by using an outdoor camera as well as our Car Guard product. Our outdoor camera has a computer vision chip that displays a bright light and loud warning sound if someone is too close to your car.

As for the Car Guard, it's a modern piece of technology that pairs with the outdoor camera and triggers it when someone is nearby. When the Car Guard triggers the camera, you'll receive an alert on your smartphone immediately. GPS tracking is also available.

Benefits of a home/vehicle security system and home automation in Florida

• Easy control over home appliances - Whether you install a smart thermostat or security camera system in your home, you'll control every feature from your smartphone or tablet. These systems include a smartphone app that makes it easy to adjust settings from any location. If someone enters your home, you'll get an alert on your phone right when the incident occurs.
• Ability to save energy - When you install smart lighting or thermostats, you'll have the ability to conserve energy by only using these devices when you and your family need them. If you forget to turn a light off before leaving for work, the smartphone app allows you to switch it off with a single click of a button.
• Enhanced security - You can pair home security systems with numerous cameras to make sure you detect anyone who trespasses on your property. If you select a home security system, every feature of the system and any home automation services you obtain are controllable from a central hub.
• Customizable preferences and settings - Smart home security and automation devices come with many programmable features. You can change these features from your smartphone and can enter your preferences for the system to remember.
• Motion detection - You can install security sensors around the windows and doors in your home to immediately detect when an intruder gets in. Along with motion detection, glass-break sensors will identify if your glass windows or doors break.

Protect your home and vehicle with a security system

If you're moving to a new home in Florida, knowing a city's crime rate gives you the information you need to determine if a city is right for you and your family. Make sure that you differentiate between violent crimes and property crimes. Some cities that have high property crime rates have relatively little violent crime.

Once you settle in, consider enhancing your security with a home automation system. You can select the security features and devices that you believe will keep your family safe at all times. Even something as small as a smart door lock boosts your security by making sure that no one without the right code gets into your home. Contact us at 855.822.1220 to learn more about the Vivint Car Guard as well as our home automation systems today!