One of the first questions prospective residents ask when considering moving to Brooklyn Heights is simple and understandable: 

Is it safe? The short answer is yes. 

Brooklyn Heights consistently ranks among Brooklyn’s safest neighborhoods, with crime rates significantly lower than both the borough and city averages. 

But safety is nuanced, and understanding the full picture helps anyone thinking about relocating to this historic area make an informed decision.

Brooklyn Heights holds an impressive safety record that reflects decades of community investment and active policing. 

The neighborhood receives a B- safety grade from CrimeGrade, meaning it’s safer than 55% of U.S. neighborhoods. More specifically, within Brooklyn, 

Brooklyn Heights stands out dramatically, with a crime rate 52% lower than the Brooklyn average. 

With a violent crime rate of just 1.8 per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of 10.7 per 1,000 residents, the neighborhood consistently ranks among the top three safest areas in Brooklyn, alongside Bay Ridge and Cobble Hill.

These statistics translate to real-world peace of mind for residents. The overall crime rate in Brooklyn Heights sits at 34.06 per 1,000 residents per year. 

To put this in perspective, residents have a roughly 1 in 30 chance of experiencing any crime in a given year, with violent crime being far less common than property-related incidents.

Understanding the Numbers and Context

Brooklyn Heights falls under the NYPD’s 84th Precinct, which also covers Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, DUMBO, and Vinegar Hill. The precinct has demonstrated remarkable progress over the past several decades. 

Crime has dropped an astounding 83% since 1990 and 78% over the last two decades. This long-term trend shows consistent improvement rather than temporary fluctuations.

More recently, the 84th Precinct ranked in the top 10 for crime reduction citywide in 2016, with a 13.4% decrease in major index crimes. While year-to-year statistics can fluctuate, the overall trajectory has been decisively positive. In 2016, major crimes dropped 10.5% across the precinct.

The types of crimes that do occur in Brooklyn Heights tend to be non-violent property crimes. Grand larceny, which includes theft of credit cards, purses, and mobile phones, represents the most common offense. 

This makes sense given the neighborhood’s proximity to major shopping areas like Fulton Mall, Montague Street, and Court Street. Many of these incidents occur in commercial areas during business hours rather than in residential zones.

Violent crime remains exceptionally rare in Brooklyn Heights proper. 

The murder rate stands at just 0.0392 per 1,000 residents, giving the neighborhood a B+ grade for this metric and placing it safer than 72% of U.S. neighborhoods. 

Serious violent crimes like assault and robbery occur infrequently, particularly in the residential streets that characterize most of Brooklyn Heights.

What Makes Brooklyn Heights Safe

Several factors contribute to Brooklyn Heights’ strong safety record. The neighborhood’s historic character plays a role. As New York City’s first designated historic district, Brooklyn Heights has attracted long-term residents who are invested in their community. 

This stability creates natural neighborhood watch dynamics, with residents familiar with their surroundings and likely to notice unusual activity.

The physical layout helps too. Brooklyn Heights features quiet, tree-lined residential streets with excellent sight lines. 

The low-rise brownstone architecture and absence of tall buildings create an intimate scale where people are visible and street activity is easily monitored. Well-maintained streets, functioning street lighting, and active pedestrian traffic during most hours all contribute to safety.

Community engagement remains robust. The Brooklyn Heights Association, founded in 1910, actively collaborates with the 84th Precinct on safety initiatives. 

The precinct maintains responsive communication with residents, quickly alerting the community to any emerging patterns and adjusting patrol strategies accordingly. 

Captain Thomas Maffei and other precinct leadership regularly attend community meetings and respond to resident concerns.

The NYPD has also adapted to changing neighborhood dynamics. 

When Brooklyn Bridge Park expanded, bringing new foot traffic and different safety considerations, the 84th Precinct responded by establishing a dedicated 16-person detail for the park, a significant increase from the two to four officers previously assigned. 

This kind of responsive policing has helped maintain low crime rates even as the neighborhood has evolved.

Realistic Safety Considerations

While Brooklyn Heights is undeniably safe, no urban neighborhood is crime-free. Understanding what types of incidents occur helps residents take sensible precautions without unnecessary anxiety.

Property crime, particularly opportunistic theft, represents the primary concern. This includes package theft from apartment lobbies, theft from unattended bags in cafes or restaurants, and pickpocketing in crowded areas. 

Most of these crimes are preventable through basic awareness and simple precautions like not leaving valuables visible in parked cars or unattended in public spaces.

Occasional burglary spikes have occurred, typically during holiday periods or weekday business hours when residences are most likely to be empty. The 84th Precinct responds quickly to these patterns with increased patrols and community alerts. 

Most burglaries involve forced entry through apartment doors, though some have utilized fire escapes to access unlocked windows. Securing windows and doors, especially when away, remains important.

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park, while generally safe and heavily used, require normal urban awareness, particularly after dark. 

The NYPD has installed surveillance cameras at Promenade entrances as an additional safety measure, and the increased park detail has significantly improved safety in these public spaces.

Comparing Brooklyn Heights to Other Neighborhoods

Brooklyn Heights’ safety statistics compare favorably not just within Brooklyn but citywide. Among Brooklyn neighborhoods, only Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights show comparable or better crime statistics. Brooklyn Heights significantly outperforms popular neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Park Slope, and Crown Heights on most safety metrics.

The contrast with higher-crime Brooklyn neighborhoods is stark. Where Brooklyn Heights has a violent crime rate of 1.8 per 1,000 residents, Brooklyn’s overall violent crime rate stands at 6.2 per 1,000. Brooklyn Heights’ property crime rate of 10.7 per 1,000 residents compares to 16.8 per 1,000 for Brooklyn overall.

Even compared to Manhattan neighborhoods with similar demographics and housing costs, Brooklyn Heights holds its own. The neighborhood provides urban living with significantly better safety statistics than many comparable Manhattan areas.

Practical Safety Tips for Residents and Visitors

Living safely in Brooklyn Heights requires the same basic awareness appropriate for any urban neighborhood. Residents should secure their homes, particularly windows and doors, and consider building security features when choosing housing. Being alert to surroundings while walking, especially after dark, makes sense anywhere in New York City.

The 84th Precinct maintains open communication with residents through community meetings, social media, and direct alerts when emerging issues arise. Attending community council meetings or following precinct updates helps residents stay informed without becoming anxious.

For visitors exploring Brooklyn Heights, normal tourist precautions apply. Keep valuables secure and be aware of your surroundings, particularly in crowded areas or while using the subway. The neighborhood’s main thoroughfares, like Montague Street, the Promenade, and Brooklyn Bridge Par,k all see heavy foot traffic and feel safe during normal hours.

The Bottom Line on Brooklyn Heights Safety

Brooklyn Heights justifiably maintains its reputation as one of New York City’s safest neighborhoods. 

Decades of declining crime rates, active community engagement, responsive policing, and physical characteristics that support natural surveillance all contribute to this safety. While no neighborhood is perfect, and urban living always requires basic awareness, Brooklyn Heights offers exceptional security compared to both Brooklyn and citywide averages.

For families, professionals, and anyone prioritizing safety in their neighborhood choice, Brooklyn Heights delivers. 

The combination of historic charm, convenient Manhattan access, and genuine safety creates an environment where residents can walk streets comfortably at various hours, children play in local parks with reasonable supervision, and the sense of community reinforces security.

The question isn’t really whether Brooklyn Heights is safe compared to urban alternatives. The more relevant question is whether its combination of safety, character, and location justifies its premium pricing. For most residents, the answer is yes.