Wake Forest is one of the safest cities in North Carolina, according to a study by home security company SafeWise. After analyzing FBI Crime Report data from 2013 to find the 50 safest cities in North Carolina, SafeWise ranked Wake Forest 26th.
For every city with a population greater than 4,000 people, SafeWise looked at the number of violent crimes, including aggravated assault, forcible rape, murder and robbery, and property crimes, including arson, burglary, larceny theft and vehicle theft. SafeWise calculated the chance of violent and property crimes happening per 1,000 population to level the playing field for cities varying in size. In those categories Wake Forest scored a modest 1.27 and 21.59 respectively.
Lauded by SafeWise as a “progressive, family friendly community,” Wake Forest also earned high praise for offering “an assortment of activities that appeal to citizens of all ages.” In addition, the Wake Forest Police Department was recognized for its community policing philosophy and online Police to Citizen (P2C) program. According to SafeWise, “Wake Forest residents enjoy a violent crime rate that’s 30 percent less than the average safe city in North Carolina.”
“We are extremely pleased to learn of the SafeWise findings,” said Wake Forest Police Chief Jeff Leonard. “One of the primary objectives of our strategic plan is to enhance the sense of safety in Wake Forest. Our high ranking suggests our residents have good reason to feel safe. That’s a testament to not only our policing efforts but also to the cooperation of our residents and their commitment to a safe community.”
Other Wake County cities and towns making the top 50 list were Holly Springs, 5; Apex, 7; Cary, 8; Morrisville, 19; Rolesville, 23; Wendell, 33; Raleigh, 42; and Knightdale, 44. To view the entire list, visit www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-north-carolina-2015/.
