The Safest Cities Around the Holidays: Property Crime Insights for 2024

Key Takeaways

• Tampa, Florida, is the safest city around the holidays.
• Oakland, California, and St. Louis, Missouri, are the most unsafe, based on property crime data.
• Tampa has the fewest larcenies (34.3 per 100K residents), while Oakland has the most (548.9 per 100K).
• Cape Coral, Florida, reports no motor vehicle thefts during the holiday season, whereas Oakland has the highest rate (315.4 per 100K).

The holiday season is a time for joy, togetherness, and celebration—but it's also when property crimes like package theft and home break-ins tend to rise. To help people make more informed decisions, we've analyzed data from November through January 2023 to rank the safest and least safe US cities during this period.

This guide focuses on non-violent crimes such as larcenies, motor vehicle thefts, and property-related incidents to highlight the safest cities across the country for residents and visitors during the holidays. Whether you're planning a trip or ensuring your home is secure, these insights and our expert tips can help you enjoy a safer and more peaceful holiday season.

Which US cities have the least property crimes around the holidays?

This section presents the rankings of the safest and least safe US cities during the holiday season based on the most recent property crime data available. We also factored in the number of neighborhood watches in each community and the level of public interest in safety based on online searches.

The safest cities around the holidays

• Tampa, Florida
• Boise, Idaho
• Miami, Florida
• Gilbert, Arizona
• Plano, Texas
• Frisco, Texas
• Cape Coral, Florida
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Mesa, Arizona
• El Paso, Texas

The least safe cities around the holidays

• Oakland, California
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Memphis, Tennessee
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Portland, Oregon
• San Francisco, California
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Denver, Colorado

How cities ranked across key holiday property crime metrics

We'll now examine the specific metrics from the previous holiday season, including larcenies, motor vehicle thefts, and robberies per 100,000 residents. We also examine community safety initiatives like neighborhood watches and public interest in holiday safety based on search volume.

• Larcenies. Tampa, FL, has the fewest larcenies (34.3 per 100K residents) during the holiday season, while Oakland, CA, has the most (548.9 per 100K).

• Motor vehicle thefts. Cape Coral, FL, reports no motor vehicle thefts, making it the safest city, whereas Oakland has the highest rate (315.4 per 100K).

• Robberies. Scottsdale, AZ, leads as the safest with only 0.82 robberies per 100K, while Oakland again tops the list with the most robberies (55.8 per 100K).

• Neighborhood watches. Oakland has the most neighborhood watches (332). Glendale, AZ, Cape Coral, FL, and Chandler, AZ, have the fewest, with only 2-3 each.

• Holiday safety searches. Cincinnati, OH (16.3 per capita) shows the highest interest in holiday safety, while 16 cities recorded no searches.

Tips to keep your home safe during the holidays

1. Secure your home

• Lock all doors and windows. Ensure all entry points are secured, including garage doors and back entrances.
• Install security systems. Use smart home security cameras or alarms to monitor your property.
• Use deadbolts. Reinforce doors with sturdy locks for added protection.

2. Be mindful of holiday lights and decorations

• Keep trees and gifts away from windows. Don't advertise valuables to passersby.
• Prevent electrical hazards. Check for frayed wires and avoid overloading outlets.

3. Protect deliveries

• Use package lockers or delivery boxes. Prevent package theft by using secure delivery options.
• Schedule deliveries for when you're home. Or have them sent to a trusted neighbor if you're away.
• Install a video doorbell. This can deter package thieves and allow you to monitor deliveries in real time.

4. Maintain a lived-in appearance

• Use smart lighting. Set lights to turn on and off at random times to make it seem like someone is home.
• Have someone check your home if you're traveling. A neighbor or friend can collect mail and keep an eye out for suspicious activity.
• Avoid posting travel plans on social media. This minimizes the risk of broadcasting an empty house.

5. Build community safety

• Join or start a neighborhood watch. Working together with neighbors can deter crime.
• Communicate with neighbors. Inform them if you'll be away so they can watch for unusual activity.

6. Secure valuables

• Store expensive items out of sight. Keep electronics, jewelry, and other valuables away from windows.
• Invest in a safe. Secure important documents and valuables inside a fireproof safe.

7. Be vigilant with visitors

• Verify unknown visitors. Check the credentials of service workers or charity collectors before allowing entry.
• Limit key or door code sharing. Only share house keys or door codes with trusted individuals.

8. Prepare for emergencies

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Ensure they're functioning properly.
• Have a fire extinguisher on hand—especially near the kitchen and areas with holiday lights.

Staying proactive and alert can help ensure a safe and secure holiday season for you and your family.

Methodology

To identify the safest US cities during the holiday season, we analyzed data from major cities and applied a weighted scoring system to the following factors:

• 2023 FBI NIBRS crime data (November through January):

  • Robbery rate per 100,000 residents (25%)
  • Motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 residents (25%)
  • Larceny rate per 100,000 residents (25%)

• Community engagement: Number of neighborhood watch programs per city (15%)

• Public interest trends: Search volume related to safety concerns over the past two years during the holiday months (November through January) via Google Trends (10%)

Fair use statement

This data is provided for noncommercial use only. If you plan to share it, please link to this source page.