City Crime Score
Low crime
Population
26,863
Median Income
$109,246
Home Value
$1,193,136
Median Age
46.0
Crime Statistics
Demographics
59.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher
Housing
El Cerrito, CA Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
El Cerrito Crime Overview: What the Data Actually Shows
El Cerrito earns an overall crime grade of C for 2026 — a middling score that deserves context. With a population of roughly 25,280 and a median household income of $108,294, this East Bay city sits in a notably affluent bracket, yet crime patterns here follow trends common to dense, transit-connected suburbs rather than wealthier enclaves further inland.
Recent Incident Breakdown (Last 90 Days)
Looking at the most recent 90-day window, El Cerrito recorded 35 total incidents tracked on this map. The breakdown tells a clear story:
- Theft: 19 incidents (54%) — by far the dominant category, with the latest reported on March 3, 2026. This aligns with regional patterns where catalytic converter theft, package theft, and shoplifting account for the bulk of police calls in transit-adjacent communities.
- Other incidents: 9 (26%) — a catch-all category covering disturbances, suspicious activity reports, and miscellaneous calls, also last recorded March 3, 2026.
- Arrests: 5 (14%) — representing cases where officers made a custodial arrest, most recently on March 2, 2026.
- Assault: 2 incidents (6%) — the lowest category by count, last recorded February 26, 2026. While any assault is serious, the low frequency relative to total incidents suggests El Cerrito's violent crime exposure is limited compared to its property crime exposure.
The ratio here is significant: property-type offenses (theft) account for more than half of all incidents, while assaults represent just 6%. For residents weighing personal safety versus property security, that distinction matters. Locking your car and securing packages is statistically more relevant than concerns about personal violence.
Neighborhood-Level Patterns in El Cerrito
El Cerrito's geography shapes where incidents concentrate. The city spans from the flatlands along San Pablo Avenue — where El Cerrito Plaza and the BART stations anchor commercial activity — up into the hillside neighborhoods of El Cerrito Hills. Theft incidents tend to cluster near commercial corridors and transit stops, where foot traffic and vehicle density create opportunity. The hillside areas, with lower density and fewer commercial targets, historically see fewer property crime reports.
The Fairmount neighborhood and areas adjacent to the Richmond border warrant closer attention on the interactive map below, as proximity to higher-density zones can influence incident frequency. Meanwhile, the Stockton Avenue corridor and neighborhoods near the Del Norte BART station reflect the mixed-use, high-traffic environment where most of the theft activity in this dataset originates.
How El Cerrito Compares Regionally
A C grade places El Cerrito in the middle tier — not among the safest Bay Area cities (which tend to score A or B), but well above the most challenged urban cores. Its 8% poverty rate and 4.9% unemployment rate are relatively low, and the $857,706 median home value reflects a stable, invested community. High-income cities with active commercial zones frequently carry C-level crime grades precisely because property crime opportunity scales with economic activity and transit access — not with community dysfunction.
Using This Crime Map Effectively
The interactive map on this page plots each of the 35 recent incidents by location and category. Use the filters to isolate theft incidents near your street, or toggle the arrest layer to see where enforcement activity is concentrated. For the most current data from El Cerrito's own records, the El Cerrito Police Department publishes official incident logs. Cross-referencing both sources gives you the most complete picture.
Practical steps that directly address El Cerrito's dominant crime type (theft): secure vehicles even for short stops near San Pablo Avenue and BART parking areas, use package lockboxes or require signature delivery, and participate in the city's neighborhood watch network — particularly in the flatlands where incident density is highest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: El Cerrito Crime & Safety
What is El Cerrito's overall crime grade?
El Cerrito receives a C grade for overall crime in 2026. This reflects a moderate level of criminal activity — higher than the safest Bay Area suburbs but not among the most challenged cities in the region. The grade is heavily influenced by property crime, particularly theft, which accounts for 54% of incidents in the last 90 days.
What types of crime are most common in El Cerrito right now?
Based on the most recent 90-day incident data, theft is the dominant crime type at 54% of all reported incidents (19 out of 35 total). Miscellaneous "other" incidents follow at 26%, arrests at 14%, and assaults at just 6% — only 2 incidents in the tracked period. This means El Cerrito's crime profile is primarily a property crime story, not a violent crime concern.
Is El Cerrito safe to live in?
El Cerrito is a reasonably safe place to live, particularly if property crime prevention is part of your routine. The assault rate in recent data is very low (6% of incidents), and the city's demographics — a median household income of $108,294, an 8% poverty rate, and a 4.9% unemployment rate — reflect a stable community. The El Cerrito Hills and Fairmount neighborhoods each have distinct safety profiles, so consulting the interactive map for your specific street is worthwhile before drawing conclusions about the city as a whole.
Which El Cerrito neighborhoods have the most crime incidents?
The flatland areas near commercial corridors — particularly around El Cerrito Plaza, the Del Norte BART station, and the San Pablo Avenue corridor — tend to see higher concentrations of theft incidents, consistent with the 54% theft share in recent data. The hillside neighborhoods of El Cerrito Hills generally report fewer incidents due to lower commercial density and reduced foot traffic. Use the map filters on this page to explore incident locations by neighborhood.
How does El Cerrito's crime rate compare to other Bay Area cities?
With a C grade, El Cerrito sits in the middle of the Bay Area safety spectrum. It outperforms higher-density urban cores but trails quieter, less transit-connected suburbs that typically score A or B. The city's combination of BART access, commercial activity along San Pablo Avenue, and moderate population density (2,658 people per square mile) creates the conditions for the property crime levels reflected in its grade.
How often is the El Cerrito crime map updated?
The incident data on this map is updated regularly as new reports are processed. The most recent incidents in the current dataset were recorded on March 3, 2026. For real-time or official incident reports, the El Cerrito Police Department is the authoritative source.
Surrounding Cities
El Cerrito Zip Codes
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