With the conclusion of the 2021-2022 DU school year, we reviewed published police reports for the consolidated University and University Park neighborhoods thru June 2022. The trends are mixed when reviewing area neighborhood crimes. Overall, out of 78 Denver-area neighborhoods, University ranks #53 and University Park #35th on overall crime.

For our analysis, we consolidated the two neighborhoods of University and University Park to get a comprehensive view of 2022 crime year-over-year. There were 335 reported property crimes (up 15.5%), 33 burglaries (down 33%), 80 car thefts (down 3.7%), and 10 robberies (up 42.5%) . In regard to lesser reported crimes, rape was down (1 vs 3), domestic violence up (12 vs 4), bike thefts up (14 vs. 9) and no homicides this year vs. one last year (September 29th).

Crime data shows that burglaries can happen anytime during the day or night (see below):

Student Apartments and condominiums had the highest reported level of reported crime. Modera Observatory Park had 30 reported crimes. University House had 14, the Muse Apartments, Wellington Square Condominiums, and University Towers all reported double-digit crimes. Centennial Halls, another DU dormitory had five reported crimes. The adjacent University train station had 6 crimes reported.

As for business robberies, the Citgo on Colorado Boulevard, McDonald’s on Colorado and Evans, Jersey Mike’s on University and Asbury, and 7-11 on Evans and Downing all reported robberies during the first half of the year. Crime dropped at Safeway, the top reported crime address last year.

The bottom line is that the University of Denver area continues to be generally safe, especially compared to many other neighborhoods in the Denver Metropolitan area. That being said, property crimes, auto theft, and burglaries are the greatest areas of concern for residents and students, especially as we move into the warm weather months when residents are traveling and away from their primary residences. No doubt other relatively inexpensive options such as Ring doorbells, enhanced lighting, and deadbolt locks are additional measures that may mitigate crimes of opportunity.

What are the most dangerous neighborhoods in Denver?  DIA is the most dangerous with 31.68 crimes per 1,000 residents – skewed because of course, no one actually lives at the airport (except during snowstorms!).  Civic Center, Union Station, Auraria, and the Central Business District downtown are the areas of highest reported crime.

As for automobile incidents, it comes as little surprise that the most reported automobile accidents in the DU area occurred at Colorado Boulevard and Evans with 9 reported accidents. There were 8 reported accidents at University Avenue and I25 and 5 incidents reported for University and Evans, the busiest intersection bordering the DU campus.

As the school year has ended, be sure to take care and be safe!