Los Angeles warnings and dangers
Los Angeles is a vibrant, diverse and creative city with many complex layers in short, it is an extremely valuable place to explore. But is Los Angeles safe for travelers? Well, that depends. Like any big city, Los Angeles has safe areas and also dangerous parts. And wherever you go, you’d be well advised to know where to stay, as well as areas to avoid.
There are many safe places to stay in Los Angeles as detailed below. Still, travelers should know how to be vigilant when visiting LA Incidents of violent crime and property crime in Los Angeles are significantly higher than in many other US cities, in part because of LA County’s huge population (more than 10 million people).
Keep in mind, though, that per capita crime rates are actually lower in Los Angeles than other popular US tourist destinations like Las Vegas, New Orleans and San Francisco. In one ranking, Los Angeles was the 123rd most crime-infested city in the world, with a score of 48.61 (for comparison, San Pedro Sula, Honduras came in first, with a score of 85.18).
Tips for Staying Safe in Los Angeles
- Choose your hotel and neighborhood wisely: Consider avoiding spending the night in neighborhoods with higher crime rates, such as Hollywood, Chinatown, Fairfax, Crenshaw, or other areas near USC. Instead, book your hotel or vacation rental in a low-crime area like La Caada Flintridge, Palos Verdes, Century City, Pacific Palisades or Brentwood.
- Blend in: When you’re out and about, don’t draw attention to yourself by wearing expensive items or leaving them in plain sight in a car. Know where you’re going, travel in groups and drive conservatively.
- Natural Disaster Preparedness: Be sure to read about what to do during a natural disaster. Consider adding a small crush-proof flashlight and whistle to your travel keychain.
- Be wary of potential scams: Don’t fall victim to scammers pretending to be professionals in the entertainment industry. Be very skeptical if someone tells you they are a talent agent who wants to work with you.
Safe neighborhoods and areas to avoid in Los Angeles
If you’re looking for safe areas to stay in Los Angeles, some of the neighborhoods with the lowest crime rates, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department statistics, include La Caada Flintridge (home to the beautiful Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens). ), the beach of Rancho Palos Verdes, the elegant Century City and Bel-Air, the charming hills of Agoura and the famous Calabasas; plus Westlake Village, Playa del Rey, Tony Pacific Palisades and trendy Brentwood (near UCLA).
In terms of bad neighborhoods in Los Angeles, this same survey shows the highest crime rates occurring in Chesterfield Square, Watts, Exposition Park, Chinatown, Crenshaw, Fairfax and Hollywood. While you shouldn’t skip major tourist sites like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you might want to consider not spending the night in these areas.
Note that while South Central Los Angeles, now commonly known as South LA, was largely associated with crime in the 1990s, it is safer today than Hollywood and Chinatown based on violent crime statistics. And while East LA isn’t the tourist paradise of Beverly Hills or Malibu, it does offer visitors willing to embrace the neighborhood’s grittier charm the opportunity to immerse themselves in Los Angeles’ rich ethnic diversity, lively arts scene, and most authentic and delicious Mexican food. Angeles.
Visitors to downtown Los Angeles should know that even though DTLA is rapidly gentrifying, the blocks of Skid Row are still known for their density of transients, drug use, and people in dire need of mental health services. So while most parts of downtown Los Angeles are safe for tourists, visitors should be careful in choosing their routes, especially at night.
Getting Around Safely in Los Angeles
Official Los Angeles Police Department advice for avoiding crime in Los Angeles includes doing everything possible to blend in with the crowd, refraining from wearing or carrying anything that looks expensive (jewelry, cameras, purses), preparing- if before leaving studying local maps, sticking to well-lit main streets, always locking the car and not leaving anything expensive or touristy in sight that’s what the glove compartment and trunk are for. The police department also advises staying together in pairs or groups (especially if you’re female), keeping an eye on children and making sure they know the name and address of the hotel and what to do if they get lost.
According to recent statistics, the LA subway system is relatively safe. If you’re driving in Los Angeles, don’t close the trunk, as stop-and-go traffic is the norm on Los Angeles freeways and you want to do everything you can to avoid a bumper being the target of the accident. road rage. It’s not difficult to drive in Los Angeles, as long as you have a good map app and the patience to endure LA’s notorious traffic.
Finally, remember that Los Angeles is prone to 13 of the 16 threats identified by the federal government, especially wildfires, floods, mudslides and earthquakes. These risks are worth reading up on before heading to LA.
Common scams in Los Angeles
There are some common scams that people use to direct travelers to Los Angeles. Chief among them is pretending to be a Hollywood talent agent who discovers you or your child. If someone claiming to be an agent or casting professional approaches you and seems serious about wanting to work with you, ask for the person’s business card and look it up on IMDB.com. If you agree to any meeting at the person’s office, make sure you don’t go alone and never pay anything upfront, as bona fide agents only make money when their clients do.
How dangerous is Los Angeles now?
Los Angeles is, overall, a very safe city, with extremely wealthy and safe and extremely dangerous neighborhoods that balance each other out. You are advised to remain vigilant around tourist spots, as pickpockets are a problem there, and be on the lookout for suspicious activity wherever you go.
How do you stay safe in Los Angeles?
At major tourist spots such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame and on public transport, be careful to hide your cash, keep wallets in your front pockets, and hold your purses securely.
If possible, don’t carry valuables with you and check your bags if you get hit by a group of people.
Is Los Angeles Safe or Dangerous?
In 2023, FEMA ranked Los Angeles County as the most dangerous city in the United States.
The Economist listed Los Angeles as the 17th safest city out of 60 worldwide, so it is considered a safe city internationally.
Downtown Los Angeles, also known as Skid Row, is one of the most dangerous areas in the city.
Where not to stay in LA?
While LA is safer to visit and walk around, there are some sketchy areas (where many homeless people live) that are best avoided.
Some of them are: Skid Row, Compton, South Central, Hyde Park and West Adams.
