Atlanta Crime by the Numbers: How Many Crimes Happen Each Year?

When you live in, work in, or are thinking about moving to Atlanta, Georgia, it’s natural to ask: “How many crimes are committed in Atlanta each year?”

The short answer is that Atlanta sees tens of thousands of reported crimes annually, but the type and distribution of crime matter just as much as the raw number. Crime has also been changing over time, with some categories trending down and others fluctuating from year to year.

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused breakdown to help you put the numbers in context and understand what they mean for everyday life in the city.

How Many Crimes Are Reported in Atlanta Each Year?

Atlanta’s annual crime total typically falls into the tens of thousands of reported incidents when you combine violent crime, property crime, and other reportable offenses.

Because crime trends change over time, most people look at:

• Total reported crime per year
• Violent crime (like homicide, robbery, aggravated assault)
• Property crime (like burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft)

In recent years:

• Violent crime in Atlanta has been a small fraction of total crime, but it gets the most attention.
• Property crime makes up the majority of reported incidents.

While exact yearly totals can shift, a typical pattern is:

To get a current, specific yearly number, residents commonly check:

• Annual reports from the Atlanta Police Department (APD)
• The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) crime data
• City transparency or crime dashboard tools

These official sources summarize how many crimes were reported in the latest full year and allow you to compare different neighborhoods.

What Counts as “Crime” in the Atlanta Numbers?

When people ask how many crimes are committed each year, they’re often thinking about violent incidents. However, official totals usually include:

1. Violent Crimes

These typically include:

• Homicide
• Rape
• Robbery
• Aggravated assault

These crimes are much less common than property crimes, but they understandably have a major impact on how safe a city feels.

2. Property Crimes

These are much more frequent and often drive the high overall numbers:

• Burglary (break-ins to homes or businesses)
• Larceny-theft (like stolen packages, shoplifting, or stolen items from vehicles)
• Motor vehicle theft (stolen cars, motorcycles, etc.)

Plenty of Atlantans will never personally experience violent crime, but many know someone who has been affected by car break-ins or thefts.

3. Other Reportable Offenses

Depending on how the data is grouped, totals may also include:

• Vandalism/property damage
• Fraud or financial crimes
• Certain weapons offenses
• Drug-related offenses

This is one reason total crime numbers can sound very large: they’re capturing a wide variety of incidents, from serious violence to less severe, though still important, offenses.

Is Crime in Atlanta Going Up or Down?

If you’re deciding whether to move to or stay in Atlanta, the trend can matter more than the exact number.

In recent years, Atlanta has seen:

• Periods where some violent crimes spiked, especially homicides and shootings.
• Other periods where certain violent and property crimes declined.
• Ongoing efforts by the city, police, and community groups to target specific hot spots and offenses.

Crime in a large city like Atlanta is not static. It can change with:

• Economic conditions
• Policing strategies and staffing
• Community programs and youth outreach
• Development and gentrification in specific neighborhoods

Most residents pay attention not just to “Is crime up?” but “What kind of crime is affecting my part of the city?”

How Crime Varies by Atlanta Neighborhood

The total number of crimes per year in Atlanta can be misleading without neighborhood context. Crime is not evenly spread across the city.

Some general patterns residents notice:

• Downtown, Midtown, and areas around nightlife and major venues can see more reports of theft, vehicle break-ins, and occasional robberies, especially where lots of visitors gather.
• Residential neighborhoods like Buckhead, Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, West Midtown, East Atlanta, and Old Fourth Ward may experience different mixes of:
  • Property crime (package thefts, car break-ins)
  • Occasional burglaries
  • Varying levels of violent crime depending on the specific area and time period
• Certain parts of South and West Atlanta have historically reported higher rates of violent crime, although local conditions can shift as development, community efforts, and policing strategies evolve.

This is why many Atlantans:

• Look at crime maps for the exact area where they live or are moving.
• Ask neighbors, local associations, or building managers about recent issues on their block, not just citywide headlines.

How Atlanta Crime Rates Compare to Population

Another way people think about “how many crimes” is by looking at crime relative to Atlanta’s population.

A few points locals often keep in mind:

• Atlanta has far more people in the city during the workday and during major events than its resident population alone, thanks to commuters, tourists, and convention visitors.
• That means crime per resident can look high on paper, because the city is effectively serving a much larger daytime and event population.
• Popular areas around Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, Georgia World Congress Center, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport bring in large crowds. More people often means more opportunities for:
  • Car break-ins
  • Theft
  • Occasional disorderly conduct or assaults

So while the raw yearly number of crimes might sound large, it’s happening in a city that functions as a regional and national hub, not a small town.

How to Look Up Current Crime Numbers in Atlanta

If you want more than a general answer and prefer to check the latest year’s numbers yourself, Atlantans usually turn to:

Atlanta Police Department (APD)

The APD provides public access to crime information and compiled stats.

Main APD address:
Atlanta Police Department Headquarters
226 Peachtree St SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main non-emergency line: (404) 614-6544

Useful APD resources often include:

• Annual crime reports or summaries for the City of Atlanta
• Crime mapping tools that show what’s reported near a specific address
• Breakdowns by zone, neighborhood, and crime type

City of Atlanta and Public Dashboards

Many residents and real estate professionals rely on:

• City or APD online dashboards showing:
  • Year-to-date crime
  • Comparisons to prior years
  • Specific categories (robbery, burglary, auto theft, etc.)

These tools let you answer more tailored questions like:

• “How many motor vehicle thefts have been reported in my neighborhood this year?”
• “Is robbery up or down compared to last year in my area?”

Practical Takeaways for Living in Atlanta

Knowing that Atlanta logs tens of thousands of crimes a year is only part of the picture. Most residents focus on practical safety habits rather than the citywide total.

Here are common steps people in Atlanta take:

• Protect your vehicle
  • 🚗 Never leave valuables in sight (bags, laptops, purses, even charging cables)
  • Park in well-lit, busy areas when possible
• Secure your home or apartment
  • Use deadbolts, window locks, and lighting around entrances
  • Consider simple measures like video doorbells or basic cameras
• Stay aware in busy areas
  • Around Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead nightlife, or major events, keep a close eye on your belongings
  • Walk in well-traveled, well-lit routes at night when possible
• Connect with your local community
  • Many Atlanta neighborhoods have Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs), community groups, or social media pages sharing local crime updates and safety tips.
  • APD often holds community meetings where officers discuss recent crime trends in specific zones.

These steps don’t change the official number of crimes in the annual stats, but they often reduce your personal risk and help you feel more informed and in control.

When to Contact Atlanta Police or Other Services

If you experience or witness crime in Atlanta:

• Emergency / crime in progress:
  Call 911 immediately.

• Non-emergency situations (after-the-fact reports, minor incidents):
  Call the Atlanta Police non-emergency line at (404) 658-6666.

• Local precincts and zone offices
  APD divides the city into zones (Zone 1 through Zone 6 and specialized units). Residents often visit or call their zone precinct for:

  • Neighborhood concerns
  • Ongoing issues
  • Community meetings and information

• Support after a crime
  In addition to APD, there are victim assistance programs and community organizations in Atlanta that help residents with:

  • Emotional support
  • Navigating reports and court processes
  • Safety planning

What the Annual Crime Number in Atlanta Really Means

Each year, Atlanta records a substantial number of crimes, but that figure mixes:

• Serious violent crimes
• Far more common property crimes
• A variety of other offenses

For someone living in or moving to Atlanta, the most useful approach is to:

1. Understand that citywide crime totals are high mainly because property crime is common in large, busy cities.
2. Look at neighborhood-level and crime-type data, not just the overall number.
3. Use local information, APD data, and everyday safety habits to make informed decisions about where to live, work, and spend time.

That way, the question “How many crimes are committed in Atlanta each year?” becomes not just a big city statistic, but a practical tool for understanding how life, safety, and community work across Atlanta’s diverse neighborhoods.