Crime in West Chester, Pennsylvania

Property crime

The vast majority of crimes in America are property crimes, accounting for 85% of total crimes in 2018. In West Chester, however, property crimes account for about 89% of all offenses.

Despite accounting for a higher than average share of total offenses, property crime is less prevalent in West Chester than it is nationwide. There were 309 property crimes in West Chester in 2018, or 1,522 for every 100,000 residents. Meanwhile, the national property crime rate is 2,200 incidents per 100,000 people.

Larceny

Larceny is by far the most common type of property crime in the U.S. It is also the most commonly committed type of property crime in West Chester. There were 244 larcenies reported in West Chester in 2018, or 1,202 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, the larceny rate is 1,595 per 100,000.

Burglary

There were 46 break-ins reported in West Chester in 2018, or 227 for every 100,000 residents. For reference, there were 327 reported burglaries for every 100,000 people nationwide in 2018.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Across the United States, the annual motor vehicle theft rate is 229 for every 100,000 people. In West Chester, meanwhile, there were 19 motor vehicle thefts in 2018, or 94 for every 100,000 people.

Violent crime

Violent crime accounts for a relatively small share of crimes nationwide. These offenses, which are generally more egregious than property crimes, account for about 15% of the more than 8.4 million offenses reported across the U.S. in 2018. In West Chester, however, violent offenses account for a smaller 11% share of all reported crime.

At 182 incidents for every 100,000 people, the violent crime rate in West Chester is well below the national violent crime rate of 381 offenses per 100,000 people. Law enforcement in West Chester reported a total of 37 violent crimes in 2018.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault is by far the most common type of violent crime reported in the U.S. It is also the most commonly reported violent offense in West Chester. There were 18 aggravated assaults reported in West Chester in 2018, or 89 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, the rate is far higher, standing at 247 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people.

Robbery

Robbery is the second most common type of violent crime in America. There were 11 robberies reported in West Chester in 2018, a rate of 54 robberies for every 100,000 residents. For comparison, the national robbery rate was 86 per 100,000 in 2018.

Rape

There were 7 rapes reported in West Chester in 2018, or 34 for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, there were 139,380 rapes in 2018, a rate of 43 per 100,000 people.

Murder

There was one homicide reported in the city in 2018. Adjusted for population, the murder rate in West Chester is 4.9 for every 100,000 people, the same as the national murder rate of 5 per 100,000 people.