Des Moines, IA Crime Reports & Statistics

Law Enforcement officers are individuals who ordinarily carry a firearm and a badge, have full arrest powers, and are paid from governmental funds set aside specifically for sworn law enforcement representatives. (UCR Definition)

In 2009, Des Moines, Iowa law enforcement had 1067 violent crimes reported. With a population of 196,794 in 2009, there were 54.2 occurrences of violent crimes per 10k persons in Des Moines, Iowa. The total known offenses in 2006, 2007 and 2008 were 1306, 1514 and 1330, respectively .

Violent crime is composed of four offenses: forcible rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, aggravated assault, and robbery. Violent crimes involve force or threat of force. (UCR Definition)

Des Moines, Iowa had 6 murders in 2009. With a total population of 196794 in 2009, there were 0.3 occurrences of murder per 10k persons in Des Moines, Iowa. The murder rates in Des Moines, Iowa in 2006, 2007 and 2008 were 6, 4 and 12, respectively.

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter is the willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another. (UCR Definition)

The total known offenses of aggravated assault in Des Moines, Iowa in 2009 was 664. Des Moines had 33.7 occurrences of aggravated assault per 10k persons in a population of 196,794 in 2009. In Des Moines there were 864 offenses in 2006, 938 in 2007, and 828 in 2008.

Aggravated assault is an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. The Program further specifies that this type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by other means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempted aggravated assault that involves the display of--or threat to use--a gun, knife, or other weapon is included in this crime category because serious personal injury would likely result if the assault were completed. When aggravated assault and larceny-theft occur together, the offense falls under the category of robbery. (UCR Definition)

In 2009, Des Moines, Iowa had 244 occurrences of robberies reported to the police. With 196,794 in 2009 people living in Des Moines, in 2009 there were 12.4 occurrences per 10k persons. Based on statistics from the FBI, there were 374 robberies in 2006, 387 in 2007 and 319 in 2008.

Robbery is the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear. (UCR Definition)

A property crime includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. In 2009, Des Moines, Iowa had 8688 property crimes. The population in 2009 for Des Moines was 196,794 in 2009; the number of violent crimes per 10k persons was 441.5. Looking back at the previous three years in Des Moines, Iowa, you will see that there were 13505 property crimes in 2006, 11794 in 2007 and 10016 in 2008.

A property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. The property crime category includes arson because the offense involves the destruction of property; however, arson victims may be subjected to force. Because of limited participation and varying collection procedures by local agencies, only limited data are available for arson. Arson statistics are included in trend, clearance, and arrest tables throughout Crime in the United States, but they are not included in any estimated volume data. The arson section in this report provides more information on that offense. (UCR Definition)

The total known offenses of burglary in Des Moines, Iowa in 2009 was 1830. Burglary is part of the violent crimes category. Based on the known offenses and its population of 196,794 in 2009 in 2009, Des Moines, Iowa had 93.0 occurrences of burglary per 10k persons. In Des Moines there were 2189 burglary offenses in 2006, 2095 in 2007, and 1999 in 2008.

Burglary is defined in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program as the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft. The use of force to gain entry is not required to classify an offense as a burglary. Burglary in the UCR program is categorized into three sub classifications: forcible entry, unlawful entry where no force is used, and attempted forcible entry. (UCR Definition)

Did you know that a burglary occurs in the United States every 15 seconds? In 2008, there were 2.4 billion burglaries in just the U.S.A! Property loss due to burglary totaled $4.3 billion in 2008, with an average loss of $1,991 per occurrence. You may qualify for a FREE home security system; simply fill out the form on the top of this page to get a free, no-obligation quote and protect yourself from being part of these statistics.

Des Moines, Iowa had 6146 offenses of larceny-theft reported to the police in 2009. With 196,794 in 2009 people living in Des Moines that year, there were 312.3 occurrences per 10k persons. Based on the statistics from the FBI, there were 10331 larceny-thefts in 2006, 8631 in 2007 and 7253 in 2008.

Larceny-theft (except motor vehicle theft) is the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another. Examples are thefts of bicycles or automobile accessories, shoplifting, pocket-picking, or the stealing of any property or article which is not taken by force and violence or by fraud. Attempted larcenies are included. Embezzlement, confidence games, forgery, worthless checks, etc., are excluded. (UCR Definition)

In 2009, Des Moines, Iowa law enforcement had 712 motor vehicle thefts reported. With a population of 196,794 in 2009 in Des Moines, there were 36.2 occurrences of motor vehicle theft per 10k persons. The total known offenses by law enforcement of this kind in 2006, 2007 and 2008 were 985, 1068 and 764, respectively.

Motor vehicle theft is the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. The offense includes the stealing of automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc. The taking of a motor vehicle for temporary use by persons having lawful access is excluded from this definition. (UCR Definition)

The total known offenses of arson in Des Moines in 2009 was 55. Des Moines, Iowa had 2.8 occurrences of arson per 10k persons in a population of 196,794 in 2009. In Des Moines, Iowa, the known offenses of arson were 62 in 2006, 90 in 2007, and 43 in 2008.

Arson is any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc. (UCR Definition)