Provo Utah Crime Rate [2023] 👮‍♂️ | Is Provo Utah Safe? [Statistics + Crime Map]

Provo will provide for you! SafeWise ranked the Provo-Orem metropolitan area as the second-safest big city metro area in the United States in 2021. Many people consider moving to Provo to enjoy the beautiful churches, incredible scenery, and friendly community.

But Provo UT is by no means perfect when it comes to crime. If you’re contemplating moving to the city, you should research the safest places to live in Provo Utah, so you can avoid becoming a victim of crime for decades. Here’s what you should know about the Provo Utah crime rate.

Understanding the Provo Crime Rate – How Crime Rates in Provo Utah Are Calculated

Is Provo Utah safe? When people try to answer this question or think about the Provo or Utah crime rate, FBI crime statistics usually come to mind. Police departments are supposed to send their crime data to the FBI every year, and the FBI then releases an annual report on them. However, only 63% of police departments submitted data for 2021, and only 52% of all agencies submitted a full year of data. This can make comparing two cities’ crime rates extremely difficult, even if they border each other.

Police departments can only report crimes that victims and family members tell them about. Only half of violent crimes and one-third of property crimes lead to police reports. This means that a city’s crime rate only tells part of the story.

Looking at trends over several years can be a little more helpful than looking at data from one year, but trends can be misleading. A city’s overall crime rate may decline, but violent crime may rise. A spike in crime may be due to a natural disaster or a short-term crisis, and once that crisis is over, crime rates will drop.

Crime statistics are still important to look at when you are considering moving to Provo. But you should use them only as a starting point. Read Provo crime news reports, examine multiple sources for crime rates in Provo Utah, and talk to residents about places to live in Provo.

What Is the Crime Rate in Provo, Utah?

The most recent FBI crime statistics for Provo Utah come from 2019. Here are the rates per 100,000 people:

• Overall Provo Utah crime rate: 1,623 (33.3% lower than the overall Utah crime rate, 34.5% lower than the national average)
• Violent crime rate: 115.2 (51.1% lower than the crime rate in Utah, 68.9% lower than the national average)
• Property crime rate: 1,507.8 (30.5% lower than the crime rate in Utah, 28.5% lower than the national average)

You have a 1 in 61 chance of being a victim of crime while living in Provo.

Provo crime map and Provo police reports

Provo has an official community crime map. The crime map shows that Provo is a safe area with few violent crimes. However, neighborhoods close to the center of town can experience theft, especially auto and bicycle thefts, though these thefts tend to be non-violent. To protect the privacy of sexual assault survivors, the locations of sexual assaults are randomly offset on the map and do not accurately reflect where the offenses take place.

You can submit a GRAMA request for Provo police reports through the Provo police department website. Police and crime reports can give you insight into specific cases and let you learn more about the Provo Utah crime rate.

Violent crime in Provo

Provo reported a total of 135 violent crimes in 2019. 77 of these offenses were aggravated assaults, and the city reported only one homicide during the year. You have a 1 in 868 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 117,189 chance of becoming a murder victim.

While Provo Utah itself is not a site for violent crime, some Provo residents commit violent crimes in other cities. In May 2022, a Provo man murdered his mother living in Pleasant Grove. News articles about these crimes often appear when you research “is Provo Utah a safe place to live” or “Provo crime rate,” which can lead to people believing that Provo is dangerous. Many violent offenses that take place outside of the city are prosecuted in Provo courts, and articles on these cases also appear when you research Provo crime statistics. Whenever you are researching Provo violent crime, you should check to see if the offense actually occurred in the city or not.

Property crime in Provo

Provo reported a total of 1,767 property crimes to the FBI in 2019. 1,476 of these offenses were larceny thefts. Most of these thefts are non-violent misdemeanor offenses that involve property valued at less than $1,500. You have a 1 in 66 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Provo.

Theft rates increased between 2015 and 2020. The Provo City Police received 30 reports of theft in September 2015 and 75 reports in September 2020. Provo Utah police believe most of these thefts are crimes of opportunity that occur when people leave their doors unlocked and personal items unattended. If you put your items into drawers or bags, you reduce your chances of theft significantly.

Package thefts are one of the most common forms of property crime. Package thefts doubled in December 2020 compared to November 2020. Off-road vehicles and trailers are also common targets for a thief, with several families reporting trailer thefts in September 2022. Package and vehicle thefts often occur because people leave these items unattended. If you are mindful and take your belongings out of sight, you can avoid a theft.

Bad Areas of Provo

Like any city, Provo has neighborhoods and areas that report higher crime rates than other areas. While these Provo, Utah neighborhoods are still safe overall, you should use more discretion when visiting or passing through them.

East Bay

East Bay is in central Provo, bordering Interstate 15. Many people call East Bay the commercial hub of the city, as it contains Provo Towne Centre, the main shopping mall in the city. Provo Towne Centre is a hot spot for shoplifting, assaults, and other crimes. In November 2022, a man was arrested after calling in bomb threats to the mall.

Other parts of East Bay report fewer crimes, but crime maps show that auto vehicle thefts and car break-ins can occur regularly. Many people visiting Provo Towne Centre or other attractions leave their vehicles unlocked or unattended, leaving them vulnerable to a burglary.

Franklin South

Franklin South is just north of East Bay, and it contains an Amtrak stop and community center that attract people from outside the city. The neighborhood reports a few thefts every month, including auto vehicle thefts from visitors parking their cars on the streets.

Carterville

Carterville is one of the largest neighborhoods in Provo, leading to the community reporting higher crime rates. Carterville experienced five thefts in May and June 2023, including robberies in parking lots. All of these crimes occurred in the southern part of the neighborhood, which contains a popular commercial district.

Downtown Provo

Provo Utah Downtown contains stores and attractions like the Provo City Center Temple that attract thieves and vandals. Hotels, BYU buildings, and businesses reported several break-ins and robberies in May and June 2023. The Provo Utah Downtown neighborhood has fewer homes than other Provo neighborhoods, so there are fewer residential burglaries in the community. However, an apartment break-in occurred in June 2023.

Timp

Timp is just west of Downtown Provo and contains numerous businesses that are sites for thefts and burglaries. The community reported six thefts in June 2023 alone, including the theft of a car on North 300 West.

Safest Neighborhoods in Provo

Though all communities in Provo are relatively safe, a few communities go months without reporting any felonies or prosecutions. Here are a few of the best places to live in Provo.

Provost South

Provost South reported only one crime, a non-violent theft, in June 2023. The community is a family-friendly neighborhood that contains Spring Creek Elementary School, which is one of the most diverse schools in Provo, with 66.7% minority enrollment. It’s also considered one of the best schools in Provo.

Oak Hills

Oak Hills reported no crimes in June 2023. The community is predominantly residential and close to Y Mountain and Rock Canyon, making it a nice place to live for people who like outdoor activities and quiet spaces.

Provo Bay

Provo Bay reported only one crime in June 2023. The neighborhood includes Provo Municipal Airport, making it a good choice for people who need to travel in and out of the city frequently. The neighborhood is largely undeveloped, with lots where you can build homes and commercial buildings on.

Provo Safety Tips – How to Avoid Crime in Provo

• The Provo Police Department recommends you perform a 9:00 p.m. security routine. Take any valuables you have out of your car, lock your car, and lock the trunk on your car. Lock your doors and close and lock any windows. Turn your porch light on so you can see anyone who visits your front door clearly.
• You should avoid leaving packages on your front porch unattended. However, you should also be careful when answering the door to accept a package, as someone may be using the opportunity to case your house for a burglary. Keep your blinds drawn and open the door only partway to make it harder for someone to look inside.
• Provo is a center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and contains many popular church buildings. These buildings are sites for break-ins and thefts, including from unhoused people looking for a place to sleep at night. Avoid visiting churches in Provo after dark, and keep an eye on your items when you are going to services.

Provo Police Department

The Provo Police Department was established on November 4, 1872. The police department was initially very small, with just seven members during the 1930s. As the city grew, the department expanded, employing 47 officers in 1967.

The Provo City Police Department now employs 120 sworn police officers and 67 non-sworn employees; there is one sworn police officer for every 1,000 residents. The current Provo Police Chief is Troy Beebe. The department has a few special divisions, including a division for school resource officers and a victim services unit. You can request a Provo police report through an online form.

• Official website
• Provo Utah Police Department headquarters address: 445 West Center Street, Provo, UT, 84601
• Provo Police non emergency number: 801-852-6210

Provo Crime Rate FAQ

What is the crime rate in Provo Utah?

Provo has an overall crime rate of 1,623 offenses per 100,000 people, which is 33.5% lower than the Utah crime rate.

Is Provo Utah safe?

Yes, Provo is a very safe place to live, with extremely low property and violent criminal rates.

How safe is Provo Utah?

Crime experts consider Provo to be one of the safest communities in the United States and the safest big city in Utah.

So is Provo Utah safe or not? Yes, you should be content with the crime rate in Provo Utah. Even “unsafe” neighborhoods are comfortable to live in, especially if you follow basic tips like locking your doors at night.

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