| Level of crime | 40.32 | Moderate | |
| Crime increasing in the past 3 years | 68.75 | High | |
| Worries home broken and things stolen | 35.94 | Low | |
| Worries being mugged or robbed | 32.03 | Low | |
| Worries car stolen | 28.91 | Low | |
| Worries things from car stolen | 51.56 | Moderate | |
| Worries attacked | 27.42 | Low | |
| Worries being insulted | 27.50 | Low | |
| Worries being subject to a physical attack because of your skin color, ethnic origin, gender or religion | 16.67 | Very Low | |
| Problem people using or dealing drugs | 47.50 | Moderate | |
| Problem property crimes such as vandalism and theft | 50.00 | Moderate | |
| Problem violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery | 36.72 | Low | |
| Problem corruption and bribery | 35.00 | Low |
| Safety walking alone during daylight | 82.81 | Very High | |
| Safety walking alone during night | 49.22 | Moderate |
Contributors: 32
Last update: February 2020
These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years.
If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.
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1 Comments so far
Long answer: Des Moines varies pertaining to crime, and there are a lot of variables that affect crime, such as neighborhood disputes, seasons, nighttime, etc. However, Des Moines and its surrounding areas are experiencing rapid population growth which is contributing to the crime rate. Generally, crime mostly happens during the late night and in the warmer seasons where people will be more outside. The Des Moines Police separates the city into the following areas: Central (Downtown), East Side, West Side, and South Side. For easier explanation, let's summarize the crime rate in these areas.
CENTRAL (DOWNTOWN) - The downtown area typically is low in crime rate thanks to urban developers choosing to build more within the downtown area, and because of the higher concentration of pedestrians and lighting at night. The police station is located near the center of downtown, and the police also patrol the lively courthouse district at night. But there can be some instances where the homeless or intoxicated can be a worry. Major crimes are unlikely to happen in here.
EAST - The east side resides more of the industrial areas and is home to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This area experiences somewhat more crime than the downtown area. However, due to the majority of industrial areas and the lesser amount of residential areas, the area does not experience as much crime as the other West and South sides.
SOUTH - The south side is home to the Des Moines airport and an Army Reserve base. The residential area is larger here which means more likelihood of crime, such as domestics, burglaries, thefts, etc. But this area is typically calmer than the other areas because of its close location to multiple parks.
WEST - The west side contains Drake University and its neighborhood, along with Merl Hay Mall. The residential area is dense here which means a higher likelihood of crime in this neighborhood. Major crimes do have a higher chance of happening in this area. But visiting the restaurants of the area and nightlife typically is safe.
Overall Des Moines is safer than its neighboring major cities, but be mindful of crime that may happen in between neighborhoods. If you don't find yourself in the middle of drama in these neighborhoods you can travel pretty safe around Des Moines. Gang-related crime is very low and the only possible gang crime is juvenile gangs and/or remnants of gangs from neighboring major cities. Major crimes only happen once in a while. Nightlife, attractions, and parks are nice to visit, especially the Iowa State Fair during the summertime.