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D+

Is Cerritos, California Safe?

Population 46,367 · Safer than 24% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Cerritos is a smaller community of 46,367 people with a D+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 244.9 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,310 per 100K.

Cerritos Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCerritosCalifornia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate288.4333.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2160.32099.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate229.0--268.2
Theft Rate1310.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate354.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD+

244.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

288/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2160/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Cerritos

Violent crime in Cerritos is below the national average. The rate of 288.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2160.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,310 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Cerritos Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault229
085% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery56
088% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary401
01.5x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,310
093% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft354
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Cerritos Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cerritos
288.4
State
333.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cerritos
2160.3
State
2099.2
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cerritos Safety

Is Cerritos safe?
Not especially. Cerritos earns a D+ with a crime rate of 244.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Cerritos?
244.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 288.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2160.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Cerritos safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Cerritos's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,310 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Cerritos?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Cerritos generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Cerritos police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Cerritos?
Crime rates have held steady in Cerritos, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D+ grade.
How does Cerritos compare to other cities in California?
Below average for the state. Cerritos ranks behind about 82% of California cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Cerritos to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Cerritos?
Bad. A D+ grade and 244.9 per-thousand rate put Cerritos below 76% of US cities. Violent crime at 288 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Cerritos?
288.4 per 100,000, which is 21% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (229), robbery (56), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

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View all California city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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