Buffalo Grove Ranked Among Nation's Safest Cities

Buffalo Grove is among the safest communities in the country, according to a recently released study. 

The village was declared the 35th safest town in the U.S. by NeighborhoodScout. The real estate research firm came up with the nation’s 100 safest towns based on the number of property crimes and violent crimes per 1,000 residents. The study, which includes towns with populations of at least 25,000, is based on data from 2011.

"We're very proud of that designation, but it doesn't happen in a vacuum," Village President Jeff Braiman said. "It's the result of the efforts of many, from the officers on the street to Chief (Steve) Balinski himself."

The research data is based on the number of crimes reported to the FBI, according to NeighborhoodScout’s website. Those crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, vehicle theft, homicide, forcible rape, armed robbery and aggravated assault, the site says.

The study declared that Buffalo Grove is safer than 78 percent of the nation’s cities, and states that the chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime in the village is one in 4,630.

That’s based on the three rapes, four robberies, two assaults and no murders that were reported during the study’s timeframe.

Meanwhile, there’s a one in 96 chance of becoming the victim of a property crime in the village, according to the study.

"It's always nice for an outside source other than law enforcement to recognize us," Buffalo Grove Police Cmdr. Jim Newton said. The department has received similar recognition from the state in the past, he added.

The report also spotlights the village's eight safest neighborhoods. They are:

1. Old Checker Road/Checker Drive
2. Buffalo Grove Road/Thompson Boulevard
3. Lake-Cook Road/Raupp Boulevard
4. Horatio Gardens
5. Buffalo Grove Road/Half Day Road
6. West Dundee Road/South Buffalo Grove Road
7. Dundee Road/Wilke Road
8. Village Center

"Those areas are a little lower as far as reported crimes," Newton confirmed.

The police department submits its crime data to the state and federal governments each year. Newton said an analysis of the village's 2012 police activity won't be available until late this year or in early 2014.

Buffalo Grove was among 12 Illinois towns to make the top 100 safest communities in 2011. Others included Bartlett (4th), Plainfield (51st), Mundelein (52nd), Hanover Park (57th), Mount Prospect (58th), Palatine (68th), Park Ridge (72nd), West Chicago (74th), Carol Stream (75th), Northbrook (93rd) and Hoffman Estates (97th).