Philadelphia is known for its arts, culture, and cuisine, as well as its Revolutionary-era history. But despite improvements in recent years, The City of Brotherly Love continues to experience high levels of violence and property crimes. Because of that, home security systems in Philadelphia remain a must. With a total crime index (TCI) of one — with 100 being the safest — 99% of U.S. cities are safer, according to the latest Neighborhood Scout Data, which culls information from multiple government sources.
Violent Crime in Philadelphia
The FBI defines violent crime as being one of four offenses — murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The chance of becoming the victim of some form of violent crime in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one in 101. Of the 94,526 crimes tallied in Philadelphia over the most recent 12-month period, 15,358 were violent. The city has some 1.5 million residents.
By contrast, Phoenix, Arizona, has 1.6 million residents and a TCI of seven. If you’re there, there’s a one in 126 chance you’ll experience violent crime. Of 54,534 crimes in total, 13,048 were classified as such. Then there’s San Antonio, Texas, with nearly 1.5 million residents and a total crime index of one. The chances of becoming a violent-crime victim are one in 144. Some 10,390 of the 91,211 crimes reported over 12 months in San Antonio were violent.
But in San Diego, a California city with nearly 1.4 million residents and a TCI of 16, only 5,864 of its 31,898 crimes were violent. There, you have a one in 237 chance of falling victim. In Dallas, a Texas city with more than 1.3 million residents and a TCI of 3, your chances of being subjected to violent crime are one in 148. San Jose, California, with nearly one million residents, is another city close in size to Philadelphia. It has a TCI of eight and a relatively low chance — one in 187 — of being victimized by violent crime. Some 5,185 of San Jose’s 30,900 crimes were classified as violent.
Property Crime in Philadelphia
Then there’s property crime, which is defined by the FBI as burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. In Philadelphia, your chance of experiencing a property crime is one in 20 — for a rate of 51.06 per 1,000 residents. There were 41,486 such crimes in Phoenix for the most recent 12-month period, 5,697 of which were burglaries.
Compare that with San Antonio, where you have a one in 19 chance of being victimized, for a rate of 54.05 per 1,000 residents. That city logged 80,821 property crimes over 12 months — 8,190 of them burglaries. As for San Diego’s property crime picture, you have a one in 53 chance of being victimized. Of 26,034 property crimes in America’s Finest City, 2,840 were burglaries.
Dallas also fares better than Philadelphia on the property crime front. Those residing in the southwest city have a one in 24 chance of being victimized by property crime. Some 53,325 property crimes were reported. In San Jose, you have a one in 38 chance of being victimized. There were 25,715 property crimes, for a rate of 26.52 per 1,000 residents.
Philadelphia’s Police Department
As of early 2025, the Philadelphia Police Department had about 5,220 sworn officers, said to be one of the lowest staffing levels in decades.
The department is organized into 20 patrol districts, each serving specific areas of Philadelphia. The district locations are:
- 1st District. 24th and Wolf Streets
- 2nd District. Harbison Avenue and Levick Street
- 3rd District. 11th and Wharton Streets
- 5th District. Ridge Avenue and Cinnaminson Street
- 7th District. Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street
- 8th District. Academy and Red Lion Roads
- 12th District. 65th Street and Woodland Avenue
- 14th District. Haines Street and Germantown Avenue
- 15th District. Harbison and Levick Street
- 16th District. 39th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 17th District. 20th and Federal Streets
- 18th District. 55th and Pine Streets
- 19th District. 61st and Thompson Streets
- 22nd District. 17th Street and Montgomery Avenue
- 24th District. 3901 Whitaker Ave.
- 25th District. 3901 Whitaker Ave.
- 26th District. E. Girard and Montgomery Avenues
- 35th District. North Broad and Champlost Streets
- 39th District. 22nd Street and Hunting Park Avenues
- Airport (77th) District. Philadelphia International Airport
The districts are organized into six divisions, which fall under two Regional Operational Commands (ROCs): ROC-North and ROC-South. ROC-North includes the East, Northeast, and Northwest Divisions, while ROC-South covers the Central, Southwest, and South Divisions.
The structure is said to allow for localized policing while maintaining centralized oversight through the ROCs.
How to Stay Safe
Monitored home security systems can help play a crucial role in preventing crime by working closely with local police like those in the Philadelphia area. These systems work in tandem with law enforcement and first responders to lessen the chance of being the victim of a crime or emergency.
With a monitored security system, when an alarm is triggered, the security company’s monitoring center immediately assesses the situation and notifies law enforcement if necessary. By providing real-time information, such as the nature of the alarm and whether it’s a break-in or fire, first responders can respond more quickly and efficiently. The partnership between first responders and a monitored home security company helps enhance public safety and reduce response times.
In Summary
Compared to other cities with similar populations, incidences of violent crimes, in particular, are high in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, in the U.S. as a whole, a residential break-in occurs every 26 seconds. Further, homes with no security system are 300% more likely to be burglarized wherever they are. Some 83% of would-be burglars search for the presence of an alarm system before attempting a break-in. That’s why monitored home security systems from Guardian Protection offer around-the-clock monitoring to give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re covered by professionals who work closely with first responders, every hour of the day.
