Austin, Texas is a popular destination widely known for its live music, distinctive local cuisine, festivals and diverse cultures. While the city has experienced modest declines in some crime categories in the last few years, including violent crime, ongoing challenges make home security in Austin important.
With a total crime index (TCI) of five — with 100 being the safest — 95% of U.S. cities are safer than Austin, according to the latest Neighborhood Scout data, which gleans information from multiple sources. Austin has around 984,000 residents as of 2024, according to the U.S. Census. Here’s how the city fares crime-wise compared to other municipalities of comparable size.
Violent Crime in Austin
The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime in Austin is 1 in 199. Of the 38,063 crimes reported in Austin over the most recent 12-month period, 4,932 were violent. The FBI defines violent crime as as being one of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, robbery, forcible rape, and aggravated assault.
By contrast, Fort Worth, another Texas city, has some 978,000 residents and a TCI of nine. If you’re there, there’s a one in 205 chance you’ll experience violent crime. Of 30,642 total crimes that were tallied, 4,778 were listed as violent. Then there is Jacksonville, Florida, with more than 985,000 residents and a total crime index of seven. The chances of being victimized by violent crime there are one in 140. Of 33,099 reported over 12 months, 7,063 were in the violent category.
But in Columbus, Ohio, a city with a population of about 913,000 and a TCI of eight, just 3,528 of its 28,782 crimes were violent. There, you have a one in 259 chance of victimization. In Charlotte, a North Carolina city with a crime index of three, your chances of falling victim to violent crime is one in 134. Of 41,914 total crimes, 6,801 were violent.
Indianapolis, Indiana, with more than 911,311 residents, is another city close in size to Austin. Like Charlotte, it also has a TCI of three and a relatively high chance of victimization by violent crime. Over a 12-month period, some 9,232 of 40,938 crimes were violent.
Property Crime in Austin
Then there is property crime, defined by the FBI as burglary, arson, motor vehicle theft, and larceny theft. In Austin, your chances of experiencing this type of crime is one in 30 — for a rate of 33.81 per 1,000 residents. There were 38,063 crimes logged over 12 months, 33,131 of which were property crimes, including 4,626 burglaries.
In 2024, the Austin Police Department (APD) Burglary Unit alerted city residents to a pattern of burglaries, particularly those targeting members of the South Asian and Indian cultures, and offered these crime prevention tips.
Compare Austin’s data with that of Fort Worth, where you have a one in 38 chance of being victimized, for a rate of 26.43 per 1,000 residents. That city reported 25,864 property crimes over 12 months — 3,817 of them burglaries. As for Jacksonville’s property crime picture, you have a one in 38 chance of victimization. Of all crimes in The Bold City, 26,036 were in the property category.
Columbus also fares somewhat better than Austin on the property crime front. Those residing in the Midwest city have a one in 36 chance of being victimized by property crime. Of 25,254 property crimes in Columbus, 3,786 were burglaries.
In Charlotte, meanwhile, there’s a one in 26 chance of experiencing a property crime. That’s a rate of 38.53 per 1,000 residents. Of the city’s 36,996 property crimes, 1,731 were residential burglaries. Similarly, there’s a one in 28 chance you’ll experience a property crime in Indianapolis, for a rate of 36.06 per 1,000 residents.
Austin’s Police Department
The Austin Police Department has some 1,908 officers who police some 296 square miles. The city is divided into nine area commands for patrol: the downtown area, northeast area, northwest area, north central area, central east area, central west area, southeast area, southwest area, and south central area.
The department divides the city into five regions, with each region broken down into two sectors:
- Region 1: Baker Sector, Ida Sector
- Region 2: Adam Sector, David Sector
- Region 3: Charlie Sector, Edward Sector
- Region 4: Frank Sector, George Sector
- Region 5: Henry Sector, William Sector
Each sector is divided into four districts, for a total of 40 districts citywide. To address neighborhood specific concerns, each district has a designated district representative. Sectors are overseen by commanders, while district representatives manage district-level community issues.
The APD operates four substations: the North Substation, South Substation, East Substation, and the Main Headquarters. The department’s substations focus on deploying officers into their assigned sectors and assisting community policing efforts via sector lieutenants, who work with residents to address local issues.
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 San Antonio 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 property crimes, in particular, are higher in Austin. 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.
