Connecticut has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation, but residents still have to stay cautious about criminal activity around them. Whether you live among Connecticut’s safest cities or not, Home Security Life can help you find the right company to keep you safe. Learn more about the Connecticut crime rate in this informative guide and how you can stay safe in your home.
How the Connecticut Crime Rate Fluctuates Over Time
According to data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, Connecticut is in the midst of a decade-long decline in crimes. The state’s number of violent and property crimes stands at 1.6 and 15.1 incidents per 1,000 people, respectively. These numbers are significantly lower today than they were a little more than a decade ago.
Officials from the state’s Office of Policy and Management say that the current numbers reflect a 43% decrease in violent crime since 2012 and a 29% decrease in reported property crimes. The state saw a slight uptick in violent crime in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This prompted officials to examine the behaviors that lead to violent crimes and create legislation to prevent it.
While Connecticut’s crime rate is on a downward trend for the long term, it’s important to know that crime rates can rise for several reasons, including policy changes, socioeconomic issues, and demographic changes. Each of these components may alter the Connecticut crime rate in the coming years for better or for worse.
Connecticut Crime Rates vs. The National Average
How does the amount of crime in Connecticut compare to the national average? Connecticut residents can rest easy knowing their state falls below the national average for both violent and property crimes. Across the United States, law enforcement responds to 4.0 violent crimes per every 1,000, yet Connecticut law enforcement only sees violent crimes occur 1.6 times for every 1,000 residents.
Property crime rates are slightly higher, at 15.1 incidents per 1,000 people, yet still below the national average of 19.3 incidents. Current trends find that violent offenses make up 10% of the state’s total crimes, yet property crimes are far more prevalent.
What Influences the Connecticut Crime Rate?
A SafeWise safety survey finds that approximately 32% of Connecticut residents use a variety of measures to protect themselves and their property. This includes:
- Home security systems
- Doorbell cameras
- Pepper spray
- Firearms
Using these forms of personal protection can lead to lower rates of crime, from property theft to even attempted rape or aggravated assault. In some cases, a person’s location may subject them to more property crimes. For example, SafeWise reports that Hartford, Connecticut, is one of the worst cities when it comes to high amounts of package theft reports.
There are some initiatives that local law enforcement officials are implementing to keep the crime rate dropping. For example, the cities of Hartford and New Haven each launched various anti-crime initiatives after their homicide rates reached 10-year highs, CT Insider reports. According to local law enforcement data, New Haven saw a 60% decrease in the number of homicide victims, while Hartford saw a slight decrease in its number of non-fatal shootings.
Connecticut’s Department of Correction has several programs available to offenders with the intention of setting them up for success after their release and steering them away from a life of crime. These programs include vocational training, domestic violence counseling, religious services, and anger management.
Common Crimes Impacting Connecticut Cities
This guide mentions data pertaining to violent and property crime, but what exactly constitutes each one? It’s time to dive deeper into each category and how frequently Connecticut law enforcement deals with the associated crimes.
Violent Crime
Violent crimes like robbery, aggravated assault, murder, and rape account for 10% of the total crimes committed in Connecticut. The most common type of violent crime in the state is robbery, which makes up 33% of all violent crime incidents. In fact, Connecticut holds the highest percentage of robberies among all states since the national average is only 15%.
One notable component of violent crime is firearm-related incidents and mass shootings. Connecticut did see a slight increase in mass shootings year over year and a 97% increase in reported gun violence experiences, as stated by SafeWise.
The homicide rate is the main type of violent crime that has been on the rise in recent years. According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, Connecticut’s murder rate in 2020 was 3.9 incidents for every 100,000 people. This is the highest the rate has been since 2006, while rape, robbery, and aggravated assault rates all show a steady decline over a 20-year period.
Residents have concerns over the amount of violent crime in Connecticut. About 45% of survey respondents say they worry about violent crimes, which is just slightly below the national concern rate of 49%.
Property Crime
Although data shows the property crime rate has gone down in recent years and sits below the national average, Connecticut is a regional leader in crimes of this nature. The Nutmeg State has the highest property crime rate in New England.
Property crimes include burglary, package theft, and motor vehicle robberies. Package and car theft are two of the most prevalent types of property crime impacting Connecticut residents. State officials report an increase in car robberies, in particular, throughout the last 10 years. FBI data finds that the state’s rate of motor vehicle theft jumped from 168 incidents per 100,000 people in 2019 to 236.8 incidents in 2020.
An increased use of home security cameras and alarm systems may help residents keep their belongings safe amid the uptick in car theft in recent years.
Connecticut’s 10 Safest Cities of 2023
SafeWise data shows these are the 10 safest cities in Connecticut:
- Ridgefield
- Simsbury
- Newtown
- Cheshire
- Wallingford
- Greenwich
- New Milford
- Shelton
- Guilford
- Westport
Many of these communities are affluent and have a median household income that’s at least $100,000. In these areas, violent crime is minimal, with a rate of less than one incident per 1,000 people. Property crime rates are slightly higher, though still below the overall Connecticut crime rate.
