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Each city struggles with crime and takes measures to combat illegal and harmful behaviors. Major cities are particularly prone to high rates of crime because of large populations and the influx of visitors. Whether you’re a new resident wanting to learn which crimes are the most common in the Atlanta metropolitan area or a prospective tourist, it can be useful to learn about the Atlanta crime rate.

How Crime Statistics Are Obtained and Expressed in GA

In Georgia, statistics regarding criminal activity are recorded and collected by police departments, college campus police, sheriff’s offices, and various other law enforcement entities across the state.

All agencies within a county compile their data into an individual crime index, which is then added to other indexes according to geographical regions, making up Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). These MSAs streamline the process of analyzing and comparing crime rates.

Commonly Reported Crimes in Georgia

The state of Georgia has a high frequency of property crimes, which can include theft/larceny, burglary, robbery, and fraud, as well as vandalism and arson. According to the 2022 summary report, larceny made up 60.95 percent of all reported crimes in the state, followed by motor vehicle theft and burglary crimes, with each making up roughly 10 percent of the state’s total crimes.

Human trafficking involving involuntary servitude was the least frequently reported crime at a rate of 0.3 per 100,000 people. Human trafficking involving commercial sex acts was slightly more common—it occurred at a rate of 2.4 per 100,000.

Due to the increasing number of break-ins, it’s important to remind others to lock all doors of their vehicles and homes to protect themselves from criminal activity or physical harm. Doorbells with included camera technology can also deter offenders intending to steal or burgle.

It’s estimated that a violent crime, such as murder, rape, aggravated assault, or robbery, is committed every 14 minutes and 19 seconds on average in Georgia. Non-violent crimes, including burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, and human trafficking, occur every three minutes and 10 seconds on average. This means that new crime is estimated to occur every two minutes and 35 seconds.

Statistics for Unlawful Activity in Atlanta, Georgia

In the MSA of Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, otherwise known as Metro Atlanta, the state’s 2022 crime statistical report found:

• Within a population of over 6,200,000 people, the number of crimes committed within this metropolitan area made up 61.4 percent of Georgia’s total reported illegal offenses.
• There were nearly 76,000 cases of larceny, over 13,700 instances of motor vehicle theft, and over 11,000 cases involving burglary.
• 526 murders were reported.
• 2,974 cases of robbery occurred.
• 306 instances of arson were committed.
• 2,230 cases of rape were reported.
• Over 17,000 cases of aggravated assault crimes were reported.

How Can I Determine if Atlanta is a Safe Place to Live?

It’s difficult to effectively express the safety of a city with a list of numbers and without including other considerations and contexts. However, objective data such as crime statistics are important considerations; crime maps, government and community reports, surveys, and quality-of-life indexes are good sources to begin researching. If you have concerns, you can also look into taking measures to further protect yourself.

Atlanta is located in a county with one of the highest crime indexes: Fulton County. Fulton County is among the counties in the MSA of Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, which has the highest overall crime index in Georgia. The counties of Dekalb and Gwinnett are also among the highest in the metro area. The city that is considered to have the most crime in the state is College Park.

The MSA with the next highest crime index is Macon-Bibb, which contributes to four percent of Georgia’s overall total of committed crimes. The lowest crime rate belongs to the Hinesville MSA, although it only encompasses two counties, Liberty and Long, thus having a significantly smaller population than Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta. Details like these are important to consider when analyzing the rate of crime and statistics in general.

FAQs

Q: Where Is Atlanta Ranked in Nationwide Crime?

A: The city of Atlanta, GA, ranks high in nationwide crime. It has an overall crime rate that’s higher than 97 percent of cities across the country. It is also the city with the most homicides within the state of Georgia. Atlanta is in Fulton County, which has the highest crime index in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta metropolitan statistical area. The majority of crimes involve larceny and theft, as they do across the state.

Q: Is Atlanta a Safe Place to Live?

A: Atlanta may be a safe place to live, even with its frequency of crime, depending on each person’s individual values and concerns. The weather, job opportunities, and public school systems within the city are considered to be above average. Atlanta is also regarded as a diverse city that’s good for families, outdoor activities, and general health/fitness. It also has a highly rated nightlife with abundant bars, restaurants, parks, and more.

Q: Is Downtown Atlanta Safe to Walk?

A: Downtown Atlanta is generally safe to walk, yes, but as is the case with all major cities, there is always some risk of petty crimes, such as scams or pickpocketing. When walking around town during the day, you will mainly see business professionals and tourists. If you’re walking at night, stick to places you’re more familiar with, leave high-value possessions at home, and keep on-person belongings close to you.

Q: What Is the Safest City in GA?

A: Holly Springs is regarded as the safest city in all of Georgia, as well as one of the safest cities across the country. It is located in Cherokee County, which has a crime index of 6.91 per 1,000. The city is north of Atlanta and consists of suburban neighborhoods that are also near to more bustling, urban areas.

If You Need Legal Representation for Criminal Charges, Speak With The Law Office of Lawrence J. Zimmerman

The Law Office of Lawrence J. Zimmerman has experience in representing clients dealing with cases of misdemeanors, felonies, gun crimes, larceny/theft, violent crimes, and more. Consult with our skilled attorney, who is ready to work tirelessly on your behalf.