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1996 CRIME STATISTICS MAIN PAGE 
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1996 PRELIMINARY FBI CRIME STATISTICS
BIG CITY LARCENY-THEFT RATES
from lowest to highest
 
Rank
City & State
1996 Population
(est)
Number of Larceny-Thefts
Larceny-Theft Rate
(per 100,000 residents)
1
SANTA CLARITA, CA
125,435
1,550
1,235.7
2
FONTANA, CA
105,211
1,447
1,375.3
3
SIMI VALLEY, CA
108,469
1,532
1,412.4
4
THOUSAND OAKS, CA
112,559
1,616
1,435.7
5
NORWALK, CA
102,176
1,516
1,483.7
6
EL MONTE, CA
106,149
1,608
1,514.9
7
INGLEWOOD, CA
111,650
1,851
1,657.9
8
ORANGE, CA
118,445
2,019
1,704.6
9
LANCASTER, CA
120,881
2,338
1,934.1
10
DOWNEY, CA
101,309
2,078
2,051.2
11
AMHERST TOWN, NY
107,331
2,211
2,060.0
12
IRVINE, CA
127,410
2,647
2,077.5
13
SUNNYVALE, CA
121,284
2,522
2,079.4
14
POMONA, CA
145,916
3,039
2,082.7
15
PALMDALE, CA
104,894
2,246
2,141.2
16
GARDEN GROVE, CA
150,062
3,245
2,162.4
17
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA
191,911
4,161
2,168.2
18
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA
116,431
2,531
2,173.8
19
NAPERVILLE, IL
101,980
2,235
2,191.6
20
BURBANK, CA
101,082
2,219
2,195.2
21
SANTA ANA, CA
294,963
6,501
2,204.0
22
NEW YORK, NY
7,339,594
162,869
2,219.0
23
OCEANSIDE, CA
148,308
3,309
2,231.2
24
GLENDALE, CA
181,019
4,044
2,234.0
25
LIVONIA, MI
101,450
2,271
2,238.5
26
YONKERS, NY
183,650
4,125
2,246.1
27
SPRINGFIELD, MA
150,421
3,477
2,311.5
28
SAN JOSE, CA
830,374
19,793
2,383.6
29
GARY, IN
116,024
2,823
2,433.1
30
PATERSON, NJ
139,759
3,486
2,494.3
31
FREMONT, CA
186,186
4,689
2,518.4
32
WEST COVINA, CA
104,766
2,689
2,566.7
33
FULLERTON, CA
118,524
3,110
2,623.9
34
JERSEY CITY, NJ
228,424
5,994
2,624.1
35
ANAHEIM, CA
286,146
7,550
2,638.5
36
LONG BEACH, CA
440,023
11,671
2,652.4
37
HENDERSON, NV
112,217
3,033
2,702.8
38
CLEVELAND, OH
496,049
13,441
2,709.6
39
SAN DIEGO, CA
1,168,364
31,688
2,712.2
40
LOS ANGELES, CA
3,498,139
95,069
2,717.7
41
TORRANCE, CA
140,185
3,826
2,729.3
42
PHILADELPHIA, PA
1,528,403
43,064
2,817.6
43
PITTSBURGH, PA
354,308
10,057
2,838.5
44
RIVERSIDE, CA
245,081
7,121
2,905.6
45
STERLING HEIGHTS, MI
120,737
3,523
2,917.9
46
OXNARD, CA
147,937
4,332
2,928.3
47
CAMBRIDGE, MA
100,725
2,973
2,951.6
48
PASADENA, TX
134,568
3,983
2,959.8
49
MORENO VALLEY, CA
141,292
4,216
2,983.9
50
ANN ARBOR, MI
109,939
3,283
2,986.2
51
CHULA VISTA, CA
151,377
4,591
3,032.8
52
CHESAPEAKE, VA
183,965
5,596
3,041.9
53
PASADENA, CA
136,077
4,142
3,043.9
54
KNOXVILLE, TN
174,054
5,304
3,047.3
55
GARLAND, TX
201,336
6,150
3,054.6
56
BRIDGEPORT, CT
133,015
4,077
3,065.1
57
WORCESTER, MA
166,782
5,130
3,075.9
58
STAMFORD, CT
107,165
3,332
3,109.2
59
ONTARIO, CA
136,742
4,292
3,138.8
60
MADISON, WI
197,572
6,294
3,185.7
61
ERIE, PA
108,432
3,458
3,189.1
62
MIDLAND, TX
100,087
3,273
3,270.2
63
TULSA, OK
379,798
12,545
3,303.1
64
GRAND PRAIRIE, TX
112,930
3,734
3,306.5
65
GREEN BAY, WI
104,283
3,481
3,338.0
66
ESCONDIDO, CA
118,003
3,943
3,341.4
67
DENVER, CO
516,224
17,269
3,345.3
68
SIOUX FALLS, SD
110,891
3,808
3,434.0
69
LOUISVILLE, KY
274,506
9,481
3,453.8
70
LAS VEGAS, NV
831,303
28,952
3,482.7
71
ABILENE, TX
114,523
4,008
3,499.7
72
AURORA, IL
113,220
3,964
3,501.1
73
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
439,851
15,688
3,566.7
74
SALINAS, CA
121,517
4,339
3,570.7
75
MONTGOMERY, AL
197,972
7,111
3,591.9
76
EVANSVILLE, IN
131,455
4,733
3,600.5
77
BUFFALO, NY
313,238
11,314
3,612.0
78
PLANO, TX
163,817
5,918
3,612.6
79
HAMPTON, VA
142,248
5,151
3,621.1
80
HOUSTON, TX
1,772,143
65,080
3,672.4
81
LUBBOCK, TX
202,403
7,472
3,691.6
82
IRVING, TX
170,960
6,342
3,709.6
83
SYRACUSE, NY
160,033
5,940
3,711.7
84
NEWPORT NEWS, VA
182,487
6,850
3,753.7
85
HAYWARD, CA
117,233
4,438
3,785.6
86
BOSTON, MA
552,519
21,234
3,843.1
87
BAKERSFIELD, CA
193,777
7,456
3,847.7
88
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
165,644
6,455
3,896.9
89
FORT COLLINS, CO
103,472
4,042
3,906.4
90
SAN BERNARDINO, CA
184,303
7,201
3,907.2
91
AKRON, OH
223,303
8,763
3,924.3
92
LAKEWOOD, CO
131,786
5,194
3,941.2
93
LEXINGTON, KY
241,150
9,522
3,948.6
94
AURORA, CO
262,188
10,366
3,953.7
95
MODESTO, CA
178,865
7,100
3,969.5
96
ANCHORAGE, AK
254,774
10,163
3,989.0
97
ALEXANDRIA, VA
114,996
4,615
4,013.2
98
CHANDLER, AZ
129,554
5,211
4,022.3
99
MESQUITE, TX
117,795
4,781
4,058.7
100
ELIZABETH, NJ
107,427
4,382
4,079.0
101
PUEBLO, CO
105,059
4,305
4,097.7
102
DETROIT, MI
1,002,299
41,193
4,109.9
103
SANTA ROSA, CA
118,625
4,901
4,131.5
104
BOISE, ID
153,258
6,334
4,132.9
105
MILWAUKEE, WI
627,139
25,948
4,137.5
106
ALBANY, NY
104,919
4,355
4,150.8
107
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
745,127
31,062
4,168.7
108
GRAND RAPIDS, MI
192,358
8,051
4,185.4
109
CONCORD, CA
113,479
4,780
4,212.2
110
MEMPHIS, TN
631,626
26,828
4,247.5
111
WATERBURY, CT
103,490
4,396
4,247.8
112
RALEIGH, NC
245,176
10,456
4,264.7
113
OMAHA, NB
350,607
14,999
4,278.0
114
COLUMBUS, GA
194,345
8,351
4,297.0
115
ST. PAUL, MN
267,292
11,504
4,303.9
116
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
331,020
14,248
4,304.3
117
GLENDALE, AZ
183,029
7,883
4,307.0
118
VALLEJO, CA
113,069
4,901
4,334.5
119
CHICAGO, IL
2,754,118
119,492
4,338.7
120
STOCKTON, CA
225,799
9,815
4,346.8
121
WICHITA FALLS, TX
101,755
4,436
4,359.5
122
ARLINGTON, TX
298,632
13,165
4,408.4
123
ALLENTOWN, PA
105,372
4,670
4,431.9
124
SACRAMENTO, CA
379,283
16,842
4,440.5
125
CINCINNATI, OH
360,457
16,025
4,445.7
126
NEWARK, NJ
261,909
11,693
4,464.5
127
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
376,531
16,842
4,472.9
128
PROVIDENCE, RI
149,805
6,722
4,487.2
129
FLINT, MI
139,588
6,340
4,541.9
130
HIALEAH, FL
200,339
9,123
4,553.8
131
FORT WORTH, TX
470,254
21,481
4,568.0
132
MESA, AZ
340,818
15,582
4,571.9
133
RENO, NV
159,559
7,330
4,593.9
134
JACKSONVILLE, FL
690,367
31,852
4,613.8
135
DALLAS, TX
1,060,585
49,018
4,621.8
136
CLEARWATER, FL
103,036
4,763
4,622.7
137
NEW ORLEANS, LA
488,300
22,774
4,663.9
138
HONOLULU, HI
878,044
41,915
4,773.7
139
WICHITA, KS
312,706
14,936
4,776.4
140
PORTSMOUTH, VA
105,404
5,040
4,781.6
141
LAREDO, TX
156,032
7,477
4,792.0
142
NORFOLK, VA
245,956
12,053
4,900.5
143
LANSING, MI
120,821
5,952
4,926.3
144
DAYTON, OH
179,680
8,859
4,930.4
145
JACKSON, MS
196,619
9,744
4,955.8
146
ROCHESTER, NY
231,373
11,491
4,966.4
147
TOLEDO, OH
324,610
16,218
4,996.1
148
GREENSBORO, NC
203,186
10,190
5,015.1
149
ST. PETERSBURG, FL
246,229
12,373
5,025.0
150
RICHMOND, VA
204,881
10,338
5,045.9
151
FORT WAYNE, IN
186,196
9,407
5,052.2
152
AUSTIN, TX
537,484
27,187
5,058.2
153
FRESNO, CA
392,049
20,180
5,147.3
154
SPRINGFIELD, MO
152,024
7,851
5,164.3
155
LINCOLN, NB
206,704
10,746
5,198.7
156
EL PASO, TX
602,951
31,694
5,256.5
157
MOBILE, AL
207,106
10,990
5,306.5
158
PHOENIX, AZ
1,139,793
60,565
5,313.7
159
BEAUMONT, TX
119,715
6,362
5,314.3
160
SPRINGFIELD, IL
106,794
5,697
5,334.6
161
OAKLAND, CA
372,145
19,878
5,341.5
162
COLUMBUS, OH
640,297
34,244
5,348.1
163
LAFAYETTE, LA
103,134
5,589
5,419.2
164
CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG, NC
554,070
30,199
5,450.4
165
INDEPENDENCE, MO
113,382
6,213
5,479.7
166
CHATTANOOGA, TN
156,524
8,665
5,535.9
167
SPOKANE, WA
199,636
11,101
5,560.6
168
BIRMINGHAM, AL
272,169
15,280
5,614.2
169
BALTIMORE, MD
716,446
40,522
5,656.0
170
HARTFORD, CT
124,223
7,036
5,664.0
171
PEORIA, IL
113,790
6,480
5,694.7
172
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
361,595
20,690
5,721.9
173
AMARILLO, TX
171,779
9,857
5,738.2
174
DES MOINES, IA
195,455
11,226
5,743.5
175
WASHINGTON, DC
543,000
31,343
5,772.2
176
SOUTH BEND, IN
106,718
6,185
5,795.6
177
SAVANNAH, GA
146,534
8,493
5,795.9
178
ROCKFORD, IL
144,421
8,422
5,831.6
179
TEMPE, AZ
156,788
9,169
5,848.0
180
HOLLYWOOD, FL
128,996
7,545
5,849.0
181
HUNTSVILLE, AL
162,376
9,516
5,860.5
182
BROWNSVILLE, TX
117,511
6,911
5,881.2
183
SAN ANTONIO, TX
1,021,477
60,488
5,921.6
184
TACOMA, WA
189,568
11,255
5,937.2
185
NEW HAVEN, CT
119,566
7,139
5,970.8
186
TUCSON, AZ
472,385
28,460
6,024.7
187
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
426,736
25,961
6,083.6
188
MIAMI, FL
384,976
23,431
6,086.4
189
PORTLAND, OR
467,906
28,823
6,160.0
190
WACO, TX
110,213
6,832
6,198.9
191
NASHVILLE, TN
530,059
33,195
6,262.5
192
KANSAS CITY, MO
448,474
28,124
6,271.0
193
DURHAM, NC
148,571
9,399
6,326.3
194
BERKELEY, CA
101,250
6,683
6,600.5
195
BATON ROUGE, LA
229,501
15,179
6,613.9
196
SEATTLE, WA
539,591
36,883
6,835.4
197
TALLAHASSEE, FL
138,001
9,505
6,887.6
198
WINSTON-SALEM, NC
160,678
11,078
6,894.5
199
SALEM, OR
119,822
8,310
6,935.3
200
TAMPA, FL
294,670
20,787
7,054.3
201
COLUMBIA, SC
105,316
7,501
7,122.4
202
EUGENE, OR
122,637
8,765
7,147.1
203
LITTLE ROCK, AR
182,799
13,253
7,250.0
204
ORLANDO, FL
182,616
13,444
7,361.9
205
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
469,632
35,957
7,656.4
206
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
286,660
22,006
7,676.7
207
SHREVEPORT, LA
199,418
15,454
7,749.6
208
ST. LOUIS, MO
374,041
29,228
7,814.1
209
TOPEKA, KS
121,495
9,659
7,950.1
210
MACON, GA
113,802
9,157
8,046.4
211
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
180,180
14,898
8,268.4
212
ATLANTA, GA
413,123
37,128
8,987.2
213
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
168,059
15,125
8,999.8
 
NOTES

A number of cities with populations greater than 100,000 are not included on this list..  These cities either do not participate in the FBI's voluntary Uniform Crime Reporting problem, or have not reported crimes completely for the years in question.

Cities not included in this report:

 

City & State
BABYLON TOWN, NY
BROOKHAVEN, NY
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
HUNTINGTON, NY
ISLIP, NY
KANSAS CITY, KS
OVERLAND PARK, KS
WARREN, MI
 
METHODOLOGY

Statistics were drawn from the 1996 Uniform Crime Reports Preliminary Annual Report (June 1, 1997), and in additions made to the Preliminary Annual Report through June 5, 1997.

Populations are 1996 estimates provided to the FBI by the U. S. Census Bureau.

Calculations and rankings were prepared by Number Crunchers Precision Journalism®.
 

THE INDEX

There are seven crimes included in the FBI's Crime Index.  Four are crimes against persons, also known as violent crimes.  Three are crimes against property.  A fourth category of property crime – arson – was added to the FBI Crime Index in the late 1970s.  However, not all agencies report the category.  Thus, seven crimes are included in these statistics.  They are:
 
 

VIOLENT CRIME
PROPERTY CRIME
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter Burglary
Forcible Rape Larceny-Theft
Robbery Motor Vehicle Theft
Aggravated Assault  
 
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

The FBI Crime Index has several substantial strengths and weaknesses as a measure of crime.  Primary among its strengths is how widespread it is.  The overwhelming majority of law-enforcement agencies across the country voluntarily contribute data to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program each year.

Among the weaknesses is that the FBI Crime Index counts only those incidents in selected categories known to police.  Crimes – such as rape, for instance – in categories where reporting is known to be less than complete may not be accurately represented.  Also, crimes within certain communities which may not cooperate fully with and trust their law-enforcement agencies may be skewed.