Westmoreland County, located in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, is a diverse and expansive area. It houses a population of approximately 360,000 individuals and encompasses numerous towns and cities, including Greensburg, Latrobe, Jeannette, and Monessen.
While the county boasts many secure and thriving communities, there are also certain neighborhoods grappling with elevated crime and violence rates. Based on statistics from the Crime in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania website, here are the top five most hazardous neighborhoods in the county as of 2020:
Jeannette:
Situated centrally within the county, Jeannette is a city with around 9,000 residents. According to crime data, it recorded the highest count of violent incidents in the county, with 109 reported cases in 2020.
This equates to a violent crime rate of 11.6 per 1,000 residents, surpassing the county average of 5.1 per 1,000. Predominant violent crimes in Jeannette include aggravated assault (74 instances), robbery (35 instances), and no reported homicides.
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Monessen:
Found in the southwest part of the county, Monessen is a city inhabited by roughly 7,000 people. As per crime data, Monessen reported the second-highest number of violent crimes in the county, with 88 incidents recorded in 2020.
This results in a violent crime rate of 12.6 per 1,000 residents, surpassing the county average. Leading violent crimes in Monessen encompass aggravated assault (61 cases), robbery (18 cases), and homicide (9 cases).
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New Kensington:
Positioned in the northern region of the county, New Kensington has a population of about 12,000. As indicated by crime data, New Kensington stands as the third-highest contributor to violent crimes in the county, with 86 incidents documented in 2020.
This leads to a violent crime rate of 7.2 per 1,000 residents, surpassing the county average. Chief violent crimes in New Kensington include aggravated assault (54 instances), robbery (25 instances), and homicide (7 cases).
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Arnold:
Adjacent to New Kensington in the northern part of the county, Arnold accommodates around 5,000 inhabitants. As per crime data, Arnold ranks fourth in terms of violent crimes in the county, reporting 38 incidents in 2020.
This results in a violent crime rate of 7.6 per 1,000 residents, surpassing the county average. Primary violent crimes in Arnold encompass aggravated assault (28 cases), robbery (8 cases), and homicide (2 cases).
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Latrobe:
Nestled in the eastern part of the county, Latrobe is a city with a population of about 8,000. Based on crime data, Latrobe stands as the fifth-highest contributor to violent crimes in the county, recording 36 incidents in 2020. This translates to a violent crime rate of 4.5 per 1,000 residents, slightly below the county average.
Nonetheless, Latrobe holds the highest property crime rate in the county, with 412 incidents in 2020. This leads to a property crime rate of 51.5 per 1,000 residents, more than double the county average of 23 per 1,000. Leading property crimes in Latrobe include larceny (327 cases), burglary (72 cases), and motor vehicle theft (13 cases).
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Conclusion:
These neighborhoods grapple not only with violent crimes but also with property crimes such as burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft. In 2020, Westmoreland County’s property crime rate stood at 23 per 1,000 residents, slightly exceeding the national median of 19 per 1,000 residents.
However, certain neighborhoods exhibited considerably higher rates of property crime. For instance, Jeannette reported a property crime rate of 59 per 1,000 residents, more than twice the county average. Similarly, Monessen reported a property crime rate of 48 per 1,000 residents, surpassing the county average.
