Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn Safe in 2026?
Based on 3,045 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 5 shooting incidents, and 11,169 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Prospect Lefferts Gardens is below the Brooklyn average for crime with incidents trending upward (15.4% increase year-over-year).
Prospect Lefferts Gardens is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,045 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
Data covers December 2024 – December 2025 (12 months) · Source: NYPD CompStat & NYC 311 via NYC Open Data · Updated April 26, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
3,045
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
5
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
484
1,030 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 15.4%
15.4% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 559 | 18.4% |
| petit larceny | 504 | 16.6% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 404 | 13.3% |
| felony assault | 231 | 7.6% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 228 | 7.5% |
| grand larceny | 165 | 5.4% |
| miscellaneous penal law | 149 | 4.9% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 127 | 4.2% |
Severity Distribution
Where Crimes Occur
Quality of Life Indicators
311 complaints reveal patterns about daily quality of life that crime statistics alone do not capture. These are resident-reported issues from the past 12 months.
Noise Complaints
6,472
184.9 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
283
8.1 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
600
17.1 per 1,000 residents
High
Heat/Hot Water
3,814
109.0 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Arrest Activity
Arrest data reflects law enforcement activity in the area. High arrest counts relative to crime can indicate active policing; low counts may reflect under-enforcement or lower crime.
Total Arrests
969
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
451
47% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
508
52% of total
How Safe Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens Compared to Other Brooklyn Neighborhoods?
Brooklyn Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor Terrace | 433 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 93% |
| Prospect Heights | 876 | 2 | Much Safer Than Average | 86% |
| Brooklyn Heights | 989 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 85% |
| Kensington | 1,100 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 83% |
| Brighton Beach | 1,272 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 80% |
| Midwood | 1,414 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 78% |
| Clinton Hill | 1,338 | 3 | Safer Than Average | 74% |
| Ditmas Park | 1,648 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 74% |
| Greenpoint | 1,925 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 70% |
| Marine Park | 1,908 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 70% |
| Park Slope | 2,290 | 2 | Safer Than Average | 64% |
| Bay Ridge | 3,295 | 0 | Average | 49% |
| Williamsburg | 3,515 | 1 | Average | 45% |
| Fort Greene | 3,321 | 6 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Sunset Park | 3,565 | 4 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Sheepshead Bay | 2,604 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| East Flatbush | 11,900 | 29 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Prospect Lefferts Gardens (this page) | 3,045 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Carroll Gardens | 3,958 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 38% |
| Canarsie | 3,962 | 12 | Higher Than Average | 38% |
| Flatbush | 4,068 | 7 | Higher Than Average | 36% |
| Bushwick | 8,439 | 12 | Higher Than Average | 34% |
| East New York | 13,735 | 27 | Higher Than Average | 28% |
| Crown Heights | 9,739 | 19 | Much Higher Than Average | 24% |
| Coney Island | 5,745 | 9 | Much Higher Than Average | 10% |
| Downtown Brooklyn | 6,295 | 4 | High Activity Area | 2% |
| Bed-Stuy | 13,299 | 28 | High Activity Area | 0% |
Understanding This Data
All crime statistics on this page are sourced directly from the NYPD CompStat database via NYC Open Data. Incidents are mapped to neighborhood boundaries using the NYC Department of City Planning Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (NTAs) — the same geographic units used in official census reporting. Each safety score reflects the cumulative activity within the NTA boundaries assigned to Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
NTA boundaries are drawn to maintain population comparability across census tracts, which means they may not perfectly align with what residents consider their "neighborhood." In some cases, a single NTA spans areas with different character. The percentile ranking compares Prospect Lefferts Gardens only against other NTAs within Brooklyn, so scores are borough-relative rather than city-wide.
Safety conditions vary significantly block by block. Neighborhood-level statistics provide important context but should not substitute for address-level research. Use DwellCheck to analyze a specific address and understand the precise safety environment within walking distance of where you plan to live.
Frequently Asked Questions about Prospect Lefferts Gardens Safety
Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens safe?
Prospect Lefferts Gardens is rated "Higher Than Average" — Above-average incident activity. Over the past 12 months, 3,045 crime incidents were recorded, including 5 shooting incidents. Prospect Lefferts Gardens is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,045 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Prospect Lefferts Gardens?
The most common crimes in Prospect Lefferts Gardens are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (559 incidents, 18.4% of total); 2. PETIT LARCENY (504 incidents, 16.6% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (404 incidents, 13.3% of total).
Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens safer than the Brooklyn average?
Prospect Lefferts Gardens is safer than 44% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It had 5% fewer incidents than the borough average (3,045 vs. a borough average of 3,200).
How has crime changed in Prospect Lefferts Gardens?
Crime in Prospect Lefferts Gardens has worsened by 15.4% year-over-year, rising from 2,639 to 3,045 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Prospect Lefferts Gardens?
311 data shows 6,472 Very High complaints, 283 Moderate complaints, and 600 High complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens safe at night?
Night safety in Prospect Lefferts Gardens varies by block. About 29.9% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Prospect Lefferts Gardens recorded 5 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens safe for families?
For families considering Prospect Lefferts Gardens: the neighborhood recorded 6,472 noise complaints (very high for Brooklyn) and 283 rodent reports. It ranks in the 44th percentile for safety in Brooklyn. Family-friendliness also depends on schools, parks, and building quality — use DwellCheck to evaluate a specific address.
What is the safest neighborhood in Brooklyn?
Safety varies across Brooklyn neighborhoods. Prospect Lefferts Gardens ranks at the 44th percentile with 3,045 incidents. Compare all Brooklyn neighborhoods in the comparison table above to see how each ranks by total crime, shootings, and borough percentile. All data is sourced from NYPD CompStat.
Can you walk around Prospect Lefferts Gardens at night?
Prospect Lefferts Gardens is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 5 shooting incidents and 3,045 total crime incidents — 5% fewer incidents than the borough average. Walking at night carries the same risk profile as anywhere in NYC: stay on commercial corridors with foot traffic, avoid empty side streets after midnight, and prefer subway lines that run 24/7.
Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens dangerous?
By NYPD data, Prospect Lefferts Gardens is rated "Higher Than Average" — safer than 44% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. 3,045 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 15.4% year-over-year, rising from 2,639 to 3,045 incidents. Block-level risk varies; check our address-level safety score for any specific street or building to weight NYPD incidents within a 250-meter radius.
What parts of Prospect Lefferts Gardens should I avoid?
NYPD CompStat reports incidents at the precinct level, not block-by-block, so a granular "avoid this street" answer isn't possible from public data alone. The most reliable signal at the block level is DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which weights NYPD incidents within a 250m radius of a specific building. As a general rule across all NYC neighborhoods: industrial blocks with no foot traffic are higher-risk than residential blocks; subway-station-adjacent commercial corridors are lowest-risk.
Is Prospect Lefferts Gardens a good place to live?
Prospect Lefferts Gardens scores in the 44th percentile for safety in Brooklyn. Prospect Lefferts Gardens is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,045 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months. Whether it's a good fit depends on what you weight: families, solo renters, and remote workers prioritize different factors (noise, transit access, parks, building quality). Use DwellCheck's full livability page for Prospect Lefferts Gardens to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
Search an Address in Prospect Lefferts Gardens