Belleair Fl. a Safe Town

Last updated on July 10, 2021

Within a 50-mile radius, Belleair, with 4000 residents, is the second safest community you can call home, only bested by Longboat Key with 7000 residents that swells to 12,000 in season. Belleair also has the second-highest millage rate in Pinellas County.

Thankfully Belleair crime is nearly non-existent. However, the minor crimes taking place in Belleair are caused by out-of-towners or kids.

Belleair’s principal crime category is property crimes, ranging from a kid TP-ing a house to car theft to vandalism.

Belleair has always been a safe town.  From 2010 with ten officer’s crimes decreased impressively. Over the past ten years, Belleair averaged approximately 100 reported possible crimes per year, and projected data for 2021 predicts 123 incidents. 

With 22 police officers, a 50% increase in full-time police from 2012, crime continues to decrease. Belleair employs twice the recommended number of full-time officers that is 2.5 per 1,000 residents. According to the FDLE.

Belleair’s 20/21 police budget is 30% of Belleair’s yearly budget of $2,049,029 up nearly $600,000 from its 2015-16 budget of $1,461,100. Regardless our police budget of 30% isn’t excessive. National police budgets averages range from 20% to 45% of budgets.

Perhaps thinking out of a box. Utilizing a few inexpensive deterrents. Can we keep our budget from getting out of hand and assisting our men in blue to prevent and decrease Belleair’s crime rate?

Speeding isn’t reported as a crime unless someone is driving 50 miles per hour or more over the speed limit. But driving recklessly or even 10 miles per hour over the speed limit can quickly turn into a crime.

Belleair has five roads allowing vehicles to enter Belleair. To the north driving south on Druid Rd South, Belleview Blvd, Ponce De

Leon Blvd, Poinsettia Rd, Mehlenbacher Rd/8th Ave NW to the east. All of these connect to Indian Rocks Rd.

Simply parking one or two unattended squad cars in strategic areas and rotating them bimonthly? Reduces crime and decreases the potential for speeding. Another simple obstacle for criminals includes signage in our front yards and posted on town street signs saying you’re under surveillance.

Utilizing police video/CCTV equipment and forming a community-police partnership. Residents would register their surveillance cameras with the Belleair police and provide information when needed if a crime occurs in their neighborhood. Once registered, investigators can reach out to them and request to see their video surveillance footage when a crime happens in an area! Research revealing in areas with CCTV/with residential surveillance reduces crime from 20% to 47.4%.

Visible surveillance cameras with license plate recognition software installed at the intersections allowing vehicles to enter Belleair. Would encourage safer driving habits and discourage moving violations. LPR allows police to search for the license plates of stolen vehicles or suspected cars in other crimes.

People worry about burglary more than any other property crime so as individuals we must be vigilant and proactive. Add a security camera. Add outdoor lights with motion detection it provides extra security. Stay off social media—at least when it comes to your home. Upgrade your locks! Tend to your yard. Keep shrubs and trees trimmed, so they don’t become hiding spots. Make sure your house doesn’t look vacant.

Most burglaries occur between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and burglarize our homes in less than ten minutes. Only about 15% of home burglaries resulted in arrests.