Crime by type
Phoenix Crime by Type
How the main categories of crime tend to appear across Phoenix's many districts.
Overview
What drives crime in Phoenix
Across a city as large as Phoenix, each offense type carves out its own geography. Property crime is the most broadly distributed, following the major commercial arterials, while serious violence stays concentrated in a handful of central and west-side areas. Here is the local pattern for each category.
By category
Rates and odds by crime type
Estimated annual rate per 100,000 residents and your everyday odds, with risk level relative to the U.S. average.
| Offense | Per 100k/yr | Annual odds | vs. U.S. | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theft / Larceny | 1,457 | 1 in 69 | +4% | Average |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 314 | 1 in 319 | -2% | Average |
| Burglary | 229 | 1 in 437 | -15% | Average |
| Aggravated Assault | 191 | 1 in 524 | -29% | Low |
| Robbery | 68 | 1 in 1,470 | -8% | Average |
| Rape | 25 | 1 in 4,031 | -26% | Low |
| Homicide | 5 | 1 in 21,725 | -8% | Average |
Drill down
What's actually reported in Phoenix
The most common specific offenses behind each category, from reported incident descriptions.
Theft 27,538 reports
Assault 5,302 reports
Burglary 3,880 reports
Drug Offense 3,022 reports
Robbery 1,421 reports
Sexual Offense 696 reports
Detail
Crime types in Phoenix, explained
Motor Vehicle Theft
Vehicle theft is among the most common crimes in Phoenix, with cars and trucks taken from apartment lots, shopping centers, and along the major arterial roads that crisscross the city.
Theft / Larceny
Larceny leads the property-crime totals, dominated by theft from vehicles, shoplifting along retail corridors, and package theft in residential subdivisions.
Burglary
Residential and commercial burglaries spread across the metro but concentrate in older west-side neighborhoods like Maryvale and areas with higher rental turnover.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assaults cluster along central and south Phoenix corridors and parts of the west side, often tied to disputes and, in some cases, firearms.
Robbery
Robberies follow commercial activity, with recurring clusters near busy arterials, convenience stores, and transit stops along the light-rail line.
Homicide
Homicides are relatively uncommon given the city's size and concentrate in specific central and west-side neighborhoods rather than the suburban fringes.