Is Billings safe? (2015, violent crime, homes)

[gbioryl]

The city profile for Billings shows between 1 and 4 murders every year for the last decade but then suddenly jumped to 10 in 2014 and 9 in 2015. It doesn't show 2016 yet. But my question is why the jump? Is Billings really that dangerous? Is it a typo? Were there some mass shootings that skewed the numbers? Is there a drug problem in Billings?

[MTSilvertip]

Billings is a city, of course it has a drug problem. It's also on the edge of the Reservation.
Billings is pretty safe, for a town. Just stay away from Montana Avenue.

[Antonio Montana]

MTsilvertip is right....but as Billings grows, it's starting to attract very undesirable elements there. Crime is increasing, along with shootings and gangs. I read an article in the Billings Gazette that talked about how the police force there is stretched thin. To me, Billings isn't truly Montana. Billings, to me, is starting to have more and more of the things that I moved to Montana to get away FROM (traffic crime etc.).

[Redraven]

Yes, generally speaking, Billings is "safe".
That is, it is safer than some areas in Seattle, Tacoma, Fresno, Spokane, Memphis (are portions of Beale Street still "off limits" to military personnel?), Honolulu, etc.
However, the criminal element IS moving in. We were recently advised by a Deputy Sheriff to lock our doors at night. We have lived here for a little over 12 years without worrying about that, but now, due to an increasing number of idiots breaking into homes, it has become necessary. Because of the "right to bear arms" in the Montana State Constitution (Article II, Section 12), and MCA 45-3-103, Use of Deadly Force In An Occupied Structure, one must be an idiot to enter a building uninvited!
The bottom line is, "safety" and "security" are illusions. There is really no place in the world that is really "safe" or "secure". Oh, yes, some places are better than others, that is true. But, even if you live on a farm or ranch 5 miles from the nearest neighbor, you are not truly safe these days!
But then, you weren't all that safe 100 or 150 years ago, either!

[ericsvibe]

What the statistics doesn't tell you is most of the murders in Montana are from domestic violence. It isn't from drive by shootings, or car jacking's. There have been some random killings, but much less than states like CA, or NY.

[historyfan]

That is quite a jump.

[flyingcat2k]

Most violent crime in Billings is still tied back to drugs and domestic violence. Steer clear of those two things and you'll likely never see it.

I had read that BPD only had 100 officers total. That may be a bit low now considering the city itself is 110k and Yellowstone County is over 150k. The city council hasn't been eager to spend some extra bucks on anything lately from what I read.

[sylentvoyce]

Billings is safe. Don't let the stats scare you. Be conscientious about basic security of your valuables and you'll be just fine. the newspaper will report frightening crimes, but none of them will affect you as long as you don't make friends with crack heads. Billings is just as much Montana as anywhere else in the state, enjoy!

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

I would think Montana is one of the safest states in the nation. I have never ever connected Montana with any kind of crime. Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Vermont, Maine. Honestly, I believe I'd be more concerned about being attacked by a bear than being burglarized, beaten up, mugged, robbed, stabbed, or shot in any of those states. A person would really have to go out of their way to be a crime victim in Montana. Most states would love to have the crime problems that Montana has.

[CTC]

I lived in Billings for several years. Safest white bread place ever. There are a few dive bars where people hangout to drink and fight but that’s about it.