Located on the Gulf Coast and in Sarasota County, Sarasota, FL, is known for its beautiful beaches and resort communities and is home to the well-known Sarasota School of Architecture. It’s part of the Sarasota Metropolitan Area, and its official motto is “Where urban amenities meet small town living.” If you’re planning on moving to Sarasota, you might be wondering, “How safe is Sarasota,” and “What is the crime rate in Sarasota?” Sarasota is a safe beachfront community, but just like any city, there are some places to avoid. Here’s everything you need to know and consider about the Sarasota crime rate.
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Table of Contents
Understanding the Sarasota Crime Rate | How Crime Rates Are Calculated
When it comes to determining if a place is safe to live in, the crime rates are only part of the puzzle. When you look at the crime rates, you’ll want to understand how the data is calculated, where it comes from, and the factors that are included. Most of the time, the FBI receives this data from local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. But it’s essential to note that not everything is included in these reports because each state has different requirements for reporting crimes.
Once the FBI analyzes the data they receive, the crimes are put into different categories, like property crimes or violent crimes. The rates often will change from year to year because of the information that the local law enforcement agencies provide, so keep that in mind. A few factor examples could include:
- When it comes to targeted crimes, they are not random, and two people are involved (victim and assailant) – these two people often know each other
- The police department doesn’t always report sexual assault and domestic abuse
- The FBI doesn’t always count shootings as offenses because local law enforcement agencies typically don’t include them in their report
- Not all the crime stats are shown – only indexed crimes
- There needs to be more context when utilizing crime statistics to determine if a city or town is safe
- There isn’t a seamless definition of crime throughout the United States
With that said, crime stats can be misleading. The FBI discourages using crime rates and stats as the only determining factor into whether a city, town, or village is a safe place to live. These tools can be beneficial to get a starting point, but they can’t give you the entire picture.
Interestingly enough, in 2021, the FBI phased out the Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCRS) and decided to replace it with the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). What makes the NIBRS unique is that it collects data from 20+ index crime categories and requires local law enforcement agencies to submit a detailed report. And since the law enforcement departments are submitting a more detailed report, this can make it seem like more crimes are happening, even if it hasn’t changed from the previous year(s).
What is the Sarasota Florida Crime Rate?
Whether it’s your first or tenth time moving, looking up the local crime rate in Sarasota is completely normal. Doing your homework about the Sarasota crime rate is essential, especially if you have a family, but you should consider this just the starting point.
Here’s a breakdown of the crime rate in Sarasota, FL:
- Sarasota total crime rate: 3,341 total crimes per 100k people (1 in 30 chance of being a victim of a crime)
- Sarasota property crime rate: 2,749 property crimes per 100k people
- Sarasota violent crime rate: 592 violent crimes per 100k people
Here are the statistics when comparing to the national average crime rate, as well as to the state of Florida:
- Total crime compared to national average: 42.4% higher than the rest of the country
- Property crime compared to national average: 40.4% higher than the rest of the country
- Violent crime compared to national average: 52.7% higher than the rest of the country
- Total Sarasota crime rate compared to the state of Florida: 42.4% higher than the state of Florida
- Property crime rate compared to the state: 55.4% higher than the state of Florida
- Violent crime rate compared to the state: 54.3% higher than the state of Florida
While Sarasota has a higher crime rate than the national average and the state of Florida, this doesn’t mean Sarasota isn’t a safe city. Just like any other city, there are higher crime areas that you avoid. Overall though, there are plenty of safe, family friendly Sarasota neighborhoods to settle down and call home.
Sarasota Crime Map & Crime Report
Sarasota crime maps allow you to learn more about the local crimes near the area you’re interested in living in before moving. The Sarasota Police Department utilizes the platform CrimeMapping, which allows you to enter an address, landmark, or zip code and see all of the crimes that have occurred within a certain time frame.
Violent Crime in Sarasota
There will always be areas in a city that have higher crime rates. While the Sarasota violent crime rate is higher than the national average and state average, there are still safe neighborhoods in Sarasota to call home. With the beautiful beaches and places to explore throughout the city of Sarasota, you will love calling this Florida city home.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the Sarasota violent crimes:
- Sarasota murder rate per 100k people: 2 per 100k people, which is 69.4% higher than the national average, and 66.1% lower than the state average
- Sarasota total number of homicides for the year: 1
- Sarasota total number of rape crimes for the year: 32
- Sarasota total number of robberies for the year: 59
- Sarasota total number of aggravated assaults for the year: 257
- Sarasota violent crime rate per 100k people: 592
- Chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Sarasota: 1 in 169 residents
The Sarasota violent crime rate is 592 per 100k people, which is 52.7% higher than the national average and 54.3% higher than the state, but it is still 66.1% lower for murder rates than the state of Florida.
Property Crime in Sarasota
Many of the crimes that take place in Sarasota are property crimes. Fortunately, the Sarasota Police Department continues to implement measures to ensure the Sarasota property crime rate decreases. Here’s a breakdown of the Sarasota property crime:
- Sarasota property crime rate per 100k people: 2,749
- Sarasota total property crimes: 2,749: 227 for burglary, 1,271 for larceny (theft), 124 for motor vehicle theft, and 3 for arson
- Chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Sarasota: 1 in 36 chance of being a victim of a property crime
High Crime Areas of Sarasota
While crime exists in every city, there are still some areas you’ll want to practice caution in when visiting. The bad areas in Sarasota that you should avoid include Downtown, 17th Street, Rosemary District, and the Original Gillespie Park.
For example, Downtown has a crime rate 452% higher than the national average, but many of these crimes are categorized as property and theft. These dangerous neighborhoods of Sarasota should get avoided, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t safe Sarasota neighborhoods.
The Sarasota Police Department has 224 employees (175 of them being sworn officers). These officers work hard to serve and protect the Sarasota community and residents.
Safest Neighborhoods in Sarasota
Sarasota has plenty of great places to live and call home. Some of the safest neighborhoods in Sarasota include:
Cherokee Park | Best Neighborhood for Young Professionals
Cherokee Park is an exceptional area for young professionals. The neighborhood boasts beautiful views of Sarasota Bay, as well as great schools and a safe neighborhood. The architecture in Cherokee Park is mostly Mediterranean, and it’s an affordable place to call home and raise a family. The median sale price for homes in Cherokee Park is $495,000, and you’ll have easy access to plenty of parks nearby, like San Remo Park and Bonita Park.
McClellan Park | One of the Safest Sarasota Neighborhoods
An affluent Sarasota neighborhood, McClellan Park also has a crime rate of 43% lower than the national average. McClellan Park is one of the safest Sarasota neighborhoods and is a walkable area. The homes in McClellan Park are luxurious, and the nearby neighborhoods are $1,000,000+. With close proximity to Sarasota Bay, you can enjoy a waterfront view from most of the homes in McClellan Park.
Sarasota Safety Tips | How to Avoid Crime in Sarasota
Regardless if you’re moving to Sarasota from another Florida city or moving to the state for the first time, you should take the necessary steps to ensure your safety. There will always be crime in Sarasota, but here are the best safety precautions to consider implementing to help avoid becoming a victim of a Sarasota crime:
- Carry pepper spray on your keychain
- Be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution when going outside after dark
- Increase the lighting in and outside of your home
- Add a video surveillance system and security system to your home
- Always lock your windows and lock your doors
- When you go out, travel in groups (when possible)
- Avoid the high crime areas in Sarasota, especially after it’s dark
These tips and tricks can help when moving to a new neighborhood – regardless of the crime stats for the area. Everyone is different, so you have to decide what works best for you and your lifestyle.
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Sarasota Police Department
The Sarasota Police Department was established in 1913, and its current Chief of Police is Rex Troche. Being a part of the Sarasota Police Department includes a career development team for their Specialty Units, like Strategic Investigations Unit, the Criminal Investigations Division, Marine Patrol Unit, and more. The department also has Special Response Units, like SWAT, Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, and the Crisis Negotiation Unit.
You can file a police report and request a record of a police record by email.
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Sarasota Police Department Address & Contact
- Address: 2099 Adams Ln, Sarasota, FL 34237
- Non-emergency Phone Number: (941) 263-6773
Sarasota Crime Rate FAQ
Is Sarasota, FL safe?
Overall, Sarasota is a safe place to call home and to raise a family. While there might be some higher crime areas in Sarasota, crime is present in any city.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Sarasota, FL?
Two of the safest places to live in Sarasota are Cherokee Park and McClellan Park.
Where can I find the Sarasota police reports?
Here you can request Sarasota Police Reports.
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