Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Bell Gardens, CA has a Safety Score of 45/100 — higher crime than 55% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,864.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,648 of 2,971 US cities and #102 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Bell Gardens, California Safe?
Bell Gardens, a small Gateway Cities community in Los Angeles County, was once home to a major dairy industry. This largely Hispanic city is densely populated along the Rio Hondo.
Bell Gardens has a safety score of 45/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,864.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Bell Gardens ranks #102 out of 264 cities in California and #1648 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 45th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 55% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Bell Gardens is motor vehicle theft, at 504.8 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Bell Gardens's total crime rate decreased by 3.5%, with violent crime declining 14%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Bell Gardens Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 143 | 388.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 9 | 24.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 49 | 133.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 84 | 228.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 544 | 1,476.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 50 | 135.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 308 | 835.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 186 | 504.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bell Gardens vs California Average
How does Bell Gardens's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Bell Gardens | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 388.1 | 518.0 | -25.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,476.3 | 2,161.3 | -31.7% |
| Murder Rate | 2.7 | 4.4 | -38.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,864.3 | 2,679.3 | -30.4% |
Bell Gardens Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Bell Gardens, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36,850 | 1,864.3 | 388.1 | 1,476.3 |
| 2023 | 37,221 | 1,931.7 | 451.4 | 1,480.4 |
| 2022 | 37,720 | 1,540.3 | 405.6 | 1,134.7 |
| 2020 | 42,008 | 1,828.2 | 357.1 | 1,471.2 |
| 2019 | 42,366 | 1,834.0 | 347.0 | 1,487.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bell Gardens, California safe?
Bell Gardens has a safety score of 45/100, meaning it has less crime than about 45% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,864.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Bell Gardens is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Bell Gardens, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Bell Gardens has a violent crime rate of 388.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,476.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Bell Gardens compare to the national average?
Bell Gardens's total crime rate of 1,864.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 36,850 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Bell Gardens?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Bell Gardens include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Bell Gardens safe to visit?
Like any city, Bell Gardens has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 45/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.