Is Altgeld Gardens, Chicago, Safe to Live or Visit in 2024?

Altgeld Gardens Crime Rates and Safety Rankings

Planning to live, visit, or move to Altgeld Gardens? Here's what you need to know to stay safe.

This article analyzes Altgeld Gardens' most recent crime data, drawing on statistics from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, to determine if the neighborhood is safe or dangerous.

We use a 0-100 crime rate scale. Higher scores mean more crime and greater danger.

We'll compare Altgeld Gardens to Chicago and national averages, look at crime trends, and highlight key safety concerns.

Read on for essential facts and tips on protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your property in Altgeld Gardens.

Crime and safety snapshot

How dangerous is Altgeld Gardens? The area has some significant safety challenges. The crime rate is high at 80/100, with violent crime at 80/100 and property crime at 78/100. These numbers indicate that crime is a frequent issue in this area. If you're living in or visiting Altgeld Gardens, it's crucial to be vigilant and take extra precautions to ensure your safety.

Altgeld Gardens safety ranking in Chicago

Altgeld Gardens ranks among the most dangerous Chicago neighborhoods regarding violent crime. In terms of property crime, it ranks among the most dangerous in the city.

Is Altgeld Gardens Getting Safer or More Dangerous?

Now, let's take a closer look at how safety in Altgeld Gardens has changed over time.

Has Altgeld Gardens become safer (2023 vs. 2022)?

Data reveals that Altgeld Gardens has become slightly more dangerous between 2022 and 2023. While the change isn't dramatic, it's worth being more cautious than before.

How has crime in Altgeld Gardens changed over the years?

Note: We've excluded 2020-2021 from trend comparison analyses due to the unusual crime patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing instead on comparing current data to pre-pandemic trends.

Overall crime rates

Compared to pre-pandemic years (2017 and 2019), Altgeld Gardens is about as safe. Violent crime remained unchanged. Property crime increased by 5 points.

Crimes to be Careful of in Altgeld Gardens

Whether you live in or visit Altgeld Gardens, understanding the frequency of various crimes can help you navigate daily life more safely. By knowing which offenses are more common, you can take appropriate precautions to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property in Altgeld Gardens.

How common are violent crimes in Altgeld Gardens?

In Altgeld Gardens, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is significantly elevated.

Here's a breakdown of risk levels for specific violent crimes:

• Murder/Homicide (deadly attacks): Significantly elevated
• Rape (sexual assault): Significantly elevated
• Robbery (theft by force or threat): Significantly elevated
• Aggravated Assault (serious physical attacks): Significantly elevated

While in Altgeld Gardens, watch out for the following crimes and take action to stay safe:

• Murder/Homicide and Aggravated Assault: This area sees more violent physical attacks than safer parts of town. After dark, be extra cautious. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and stay alert. If you encounter trouble, shout for help and head to a crowded area. Staying sober is crucial—it helps you stay sharp, spot potential danger from afar, and reduce the chance of becoming a target. If you feel uneasy, duck into a store or another safe place until things seem calmer.

• Rape: Women should be cautious, as sexual assaults are a serious concern here. Avoid walking alone, especially at night. Go out with friends or use trusted ride services. Stay vigilant in quiet areas. Consider carrying pepper spray or a whistle for protection. If threatened, scream for help and run towards busy spots or open businesses.

• Robbery: Muggings are more frequent here. Consider keeping valuables hidden—using a money belt can help protect your belongings.

How frequent are property crimes in Altgeld Gardens?

• Burglary (home break-ins): Significantly elevated
• Larceny (theft, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching): Significantly elevated
• Auto Theft (car stealing): Significantly elevated
• Arson (intentional fire-setting): Significantly elevated

If you own or rent property in Altgeld Gardens, regularly use a vehicle in the area, or frequently spend time in public spaces here:

• Secure your property from home break-ins — install good-quality locks, consider a home security system, and keep windows and doors secure.

• Protect yourself from pickpocketers and bag snatchers — be vigilant with personal belongings in public, secure your bag, and be aware of pickpocketing risks in crowded areas.

• Protect your car — lock it every time you leave, keep valuable items out of sight, install a car alarm if possible, and make sure you have adequate car insurance for extra peace of mind.

• Be mindful of arson risks — protect your property by keeping it well-lit, removing flammable materials from around buildings, getting comprehensive fire insurance coverage, and installing smoke detectors on every floor.

Violent Crime in Altgeld Gardens

Breakdown of violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault)

Here are the latest crime rates for specific violent offenses:

• Murder/Homicide (deadly attacks): 80/100 - a significant issue, 20 points higher than the US average.
• Rape (sexual assault): 75/100 - a significant issue, 20 points higher than the US average.
• Robbery (theft by force or threat): 84/100 - a significant issue, 32 points higher than the US average.
• Aggravated Assault (serious physical attacks): 83/100 - a significant issue, 26 points higher than the US average.

Altgeld Gardens' violent crime ranking in Chicago

In terms of violent crime rates, among the 224 neighborhoods in Chicago, Altgeld Gardens ranks among the most dangerous.

Here's how Altgeld Gardens ranks within Chicago for each type of violent crime:

• Murder: Ranks 207th, among the most dangerous.

• Rape: Ranks 205th, among the most dangerous.

• Robbery: Ranks 162nd, more dangerous than most.

• Aggravated Assault: Ranks 215th, among the most dangerous.

Is Altgeld Gardens getting safer from violent crime (2023 vs. 2022)?

• The murder crime rate decreased by 3 points, now slightly safer.
• The rape crime rate decreased by 1 point, now slightly safer.
• The robbery crime rate increased by 4 points, now moderately more dangerous.
• The aggravated assault crime rate remained unchanged, now largely unchanged.

How has violent crime in Altgeld Gardens changed over the years?

Violent crime rates

Comparing Altgeld Gardens now to the pre-pandemic years of 2017-2019, violent crime is unchanged.

Rape crime rates

Property Crime in Altgeld Gardens

While violent crimes often grab headlines, it's property crimes that might affect residents and visitors more frequently. Whether you live in Altgeld Gardens or are just passing through, understanding the property crime situation can help you protect your belongings—from home burglaries to pickpocketing and bag snatching. Let's look closely at property crime in Altgeld Gardens and how it impacts locals and travelers.

Altgeld Gardens has a property crime rate of 78 out of 100. This categorizes the area as high crime.

For context, Chicago's property crime rate in 2023 is 78/100, while the US average property crime rate for that year is 47/100.

Breakdown of property crime rates (burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson)

Here are the latest crime rates for specific property offenses:

• Burglary (home break-ins): 70/100-more frequent than average, 28 points higher than the US average.
• Larceny (theft, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching): 82/100-a significant issue, 39 points higher than the US average.
• Auto Theft (car stealing): 91/100-a major concern, 30 points higher than the US average.
• Arson (intentional fire-setting): 72/100-a significant issue, 17 points higher than the US average.

Altgeld Gardens' property crime ranking in Chicago

Altgeld Gardens ranks as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods out of 224 areas in Chicago.Here's how Altgeld Gardens ranks within Chicago for each type of property crime:

• Burglary: Ranks 198th, among the most dangerous.
• Larceny: Ranks 205th, among the most dangerous.
• Auto Theft: Ranks 181st, more dangerous than most.
• Arson: Ranks 197th, among the most dangerous.

Is Altgeld Gardens getting safer from property crime (2023 vs. 2022)?

From 2022 to 2023, Altgeld Gardens has become moderately more dangerous from property crime.Let's examine the year-over-year changes for each type of property crime:

• Burglary: Increased by 16 points, now notably more dangerous.
• Larceny: Decreased by 5 points, now moderately safer.
• Auto Theft: Increased by 6 points, now moderately more dangerous.
• Arson: Decreased by 1 point, now slightly safer.

How has property crime in Altgeld Gardens changed over the years?

Property crime rates

Comparing Altgeld Gardens now to the pre-pandemic years of 2017-2019, property crime is slightly higher by 3 points.

Nearest Neighborhoods by Crime Rate

Whether you're considering living in Altgeld Gardens or planning a visit, here's how nearby neighborhoods compare in terms of crime rates and safety.

Among nearby areas, West Pullman has the lowest overall crime rate, making it an alternative to consider if you're concerned about Altgeld Gardens' safety.

Explore the crime and safety ranking of all neighborhoods in Chicago.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

To answer the question, is Altgeld Gardens, Chicago, safe or dangerous? Now that we've reviewed Altgeld Gardens' crime and safety details, let's sum up the main points so you can decide if it's a place you'd want to live in or visit, what to be careful of, and how to stay safe if you go there:

Crime statistics

• Altgeld Gardens' overall crime rate: 80/100
• Safety ranking: 224 out of 224 neighborhoods in Chicago.
• Violent crime rate: 80/100 (12 points higher than Chicago's average, 28 points higher than the national average.)
• Property crime rate: 78/100 (7 points higher than Chicago's average, 31 points higher than the national average.)

Based on these crime statistics, Altgeld Gardens is quite dangerous. You need to be highly alert at all times.

Crime trends

Comparing 2023 to 2022:

• Overall: More dangerous by 2 points.
• Violent crime: Now dramatically safer than in 2022.
• Property crime: Now moderately more dangerous than in 2022.

Top crimes in Altgeld Gardens:

• Auto Theft: 91/100.
• Robbery: 84/100.
• Aggravated Assault: 83/100.

If you live in or visit Altgeld Gardens, stay vigilant and take these precautions:

• Altgeld Gardens has lots of car thefts. Always lock your car, even for quick stops. Never leave it running alone. Use a steering wheel or pedal lock; these can scare off thieves. If you can, put a GPS tracker in your car. Avoid parking on the street here, especially on quiet, dark streets. If you must, choose spots under streetlights or near security cameras.

• Altgeld Gardens has a high robbery rate. Keep valuables out of sight and use a money belt hidden under your clothes. Be especially careful near ATMs. If confronted by a robber, stay calm and comply with their demands—no possession is worth risking your life. If you can run fast and it's safe to do so, running might be an option. Otherwise, don't make sudden movements that could escalate the situation.

• Altgeld Gardens has high rates of violent crime. Avoid being out alone, especially after dark. Stick to well-lit main streets and stay alert to your surroundings. If you spot potential trouble from afar (drunk people, strange behavior, or groups), cross the street or calmly turn back. Don't engage with strangers in isolated areas. If attacked, shout loudly to draw attention and try to escape to a populated area if possible. Stay sober when in this area, as being intoxicated makes you an easier target. If you feel unsafe, duck into a store and stay there until it's safe to leave.

Nearby neighborhoods

Areas with the lowest crime rates near Altgeld Gardens:

• Lowest violent crime rates: West Pullman, Little Calumet River, London Towne.
• Lowest property crime rates: West Pullman, Little Calumet River, Golden Gate.