Why is Washington's property crime rate so bad? (Seattle, Spokane: house, to buy)

[Phil P]

I was looking at crime stats lately and noticed that for property crime rates for WA were a lot worse than I had perceived them to be. I've never really heard of the state being a rough area or crime ridden, and the violent crime rates aren't too bad, but the property crime rates are up there with the worst of the US. To me, property crime would matter more than violent crime as it is much more likely to happen to the average Joe / Joanne.

Why do you think the rates are this bad? A lot of the other bad crime areas have struggling economies while Washington's is booming. Is the state or cities addressing this?

Here's the 2 sources I was looking at:

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s...tables/table-4

Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site

[Hemlock140]

Like all states, some cities have more crime than others. In WA some cities skew the data, such as Seattle and Tacoma on the west, Yakima and Moses Lake on the east. These all have high propert crime, as expected with drug and homeless problems. Seattle police place a very low priority on property crime. Many other cities like here in Sammamish have far lower than average crime, both violent and property. It’s not a statewide problem, but the worst cities are bad enough to bring the composite ratings down.

[CrazyDonkey]

We've got more stuff to steal than poorer areas. We do have lower violent crime rates. It's not that we're not arresting or prosecuting anyone - our jails and prisons are full.

[Count David]

IMO it's crimes of opportunity more than anything.

WA has more of a "leave your car doors unlocked" or "dump your bike on the front lawn" culture.

[Phil P]

Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima, and Spokane are a huge chuck of the states population though. I would expect there to be good areas and bad areas, but it looks like there's a lot more bad than good, population wise.

There is more to steal, but there shouldn't be as many people in economic distress either. Generally richer places have less crime, unless there's a lot of inequality. Also, many western cities and NYC have a lot of homeless, but the property crime rates aren't at this level.

Is it just that it's not something they care about, both the police and the populace? That seems strange.

[Diana Holbrook]

Our poor aren't usually poor because of lack of opportunity... They're poor because of a drug problem. That's a different animal than just widespread poverty.

Of course there's good areas and bad areas... but thieves have cars now too, they're not limited to only certain areas. I'd be inclined to think this is not so much a local Washington problem, as a wider societal one.

Property crime is an issue everyone should worry about, but it's not actually all that difficult to protect against. Minor security measures and personal safety habits go a long ways... to make your house less attractive than others.

We look out for ourselves and our friends and neighbors... and haven't had a problem yet... ~knock on wood~

I do wish there was better punishment of thieves, I wish property crimes weren't considered less serious than other crimes against people. IMHO, theft is a major invasion and safety threat, and I think breaking into the home of a stranger should carry life-changing penalties.

I served on a jury a few years ago, for a habitual thief, and we put him away, on a three-strikes and you're out deal. Good. He's done being a threat to us. I think too many times, they plead out, and that's too bad. If we can catch them, we need to put them away. We need at least to stop dealing with the same offenders, over and over again.

[CrazyDonkey]

A lot of the property crime around here are smash-and-grab car prowls or bike thefts. Break-ins do occur, but are in the minority.

[CarlB328]

Washington is very expensive, and good jobs are very competitive, so there's plenty of upset, poor people.

[Phil P]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

Our poor aren't usually poor because of lack of opportunity... They're poor because of a drug problem. That's a different animal than just widespread poverty.

Of course there's good areas and bad areas... but thieves have cars now too, they're not limited to only certain areas. I'd be inclined to think this is not so much a local Washington problem, as a wider societal one.

Property crime is an issue everyone should worry about, but it's not actually all that difficult to protect against. Minor security measures and personal safety habits go a long ways... to make your house less attractive than others.

But Washington is kind of outlier compared to even the western US. One could also wager that it's almost easier to avoid violent crime than to avoid property crime.

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

A lot of the property crime around here are smash-and-grab car prowls or bike thefts. Break-ins do occur, but are in the minority.

It's true that the sources only look at quantity and not severity, so that could be part of it.

Originally Posted by CarlB328

Washington is very expensive, and good jobs are very competitive, so there's plenty of upset, poor people.

Did they move in or where they there and got overshadowed?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Small thefts of opportunity are drug fueled. Making pot legal does not make marijuana, meth, heroin free. Users might be free of legal prosecution, but they still must come up with the money to buy their drugs.

Meth is very closely tied to theft and burglary, and there are a lot of meth users in Washington, stealing to support their drug habit.