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Threat assessment · DC, United States
Washington, DC
Our rating, plus the advisories, health notices, emergency numbers and crime data behind it, from official sources checked Oct 20, 2026.
Nepsis threat assessment
Washington, DC
Reviewed Oct 20, 2026. Scored with our published method; never below the State Department level.
Crime and scams and Transit and roads set the level.
Top actions
- Keep your phone put away on sidewalks and at transit stops, since citywide robbery runs above average.
- Confirm the license plate and driver name before getting into any rideshare from DCA or IAD.
- Leave nothing visible in a parked car, and take your passport and bags with you.
Know before you go
Dial 911 for police, fire or ambulance anywhere in Washington, DC.
Official advisories
What governments say right now.
Checked Oct 20, 2026. We link every source so you can read it yourself.
| U.S. State Department | No State Department travel advisory applies to U.S. destinations. |
|---|---|
| UK Foreign Office (FCDO) | Last updated Aug 18, 2026. Latest change: Updated information about US Hurricane season predictions (‘Safety and security’ page). Read it → |
| CDC health notices | No active CDC travel health notice for this country. CDC travel notices → |
| Emergency numbers | 911 for police, fire and ambulance. |
| Main airport | DCA, IAD |
Crime data
What police report.
Counts are not risk. They show patterns and trends, so you know which habits matter most here.
Tourist zone: the National Mall, Downtown and Penn Quarter (Metropolitan Police Department (DC), daily data).
Reported incidents from official police open data. Period: 2025-10 to 2026-09, data through 2026-10-20. Source data →
| Type | Reports | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Other theft | 1,086 reports | about 91 a month |
| Car break-ins and vehicle theft | 232 reports | about 19 a month |
| Robbery | 60 reports | about 5 a month |
| Assault | 40 reports | about 3 a month |
Washington Police Department, citywide
FBI Crime Data Explorer, year to date. About a two-month lag. Source →
| Offense | Year to date | Change | 12-month rate per 100k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robbery | 1,475 through 2026-10 | -23% vs last year | 253.6 (state 273.3, U.S. 39.5) |
Crime and scams
What the UK Foreign Office advises.
Excerpt from UK FCDO travel advice, lightly trimmed for travelers outside the UK. This advice covers the whole United States. Full FCDO safety advice →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Protecting your belongings
Do not leave passports in rental cars, especially not in the boot. Gangs may target vehicles driven by people who look like tourists.
Violent crime
Violent crime and gun crime rarely affect tourists, but take care in unfamiliar areas. Try not to walk through quieter areas alone, especially at night. You can find public advisories and information about recent incidents on local law enforcement websites.
Mass shooting incidents can happen but are a very small percentage of murders. The US Department of Homeland Security has advice on what to do in an active shooter incident.
Research your destination before you travel and follow the advice of local authorities. Crime linked to illegal drugs is a major issue in Mexican states bordering Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Some foreign nationals have been victims of crime in the border regions, but there is no evidence they were targeted because of their nationality.
Protests
Protests are common and can become violent. Follow the instructions of local authorities who may introduce curfews or emergency orders. If you attend peaceful protests or mass gatherings:
- be mindful of your surroundings
- move away if there are signs of trouble
- follow the instructions of local authorities
What this page is
Built on official data.
Our rating above is built on the official government and police data on this page, checked Oct 20, 2026. It does not replace your government's advisory. Planning a trip here? A Nepsis kit turns it into an arrival plan you can carry. See the kits.