Shock report ranks tourist hotspots with breathtaking scenery among America's most dangerous places
American beauty hotspots including New Mexico and Colorado have been ranked among the most dangerous states in the US in an alarming report analyzing violent and property crime
The top 10 most dangerous states in America have been ranked and some of the top spots have gone to areas of stunning natural beauty popular among tourists.
Ranking the most dangerous for the second year in a row in US News and World Report's list was New Mexico. The southwestern state is famed for its stunning desert scenery, White Sands National Park and sunny and dry climate.
However, it also came out top in terms of danger levels in the report, which saw the danger ranks of all 50 states determined by their violent crime and property crime rates, according to FBI data.
The FBI defines violent crime as assault, rape, manslaughter and murder while property crime generally refers to things like burglary, vehicle theft and arson. New Mexico took the top spot due to its high violent crime rates.
It has a per capita rare of 749 per 100,000 residents while its property crime rate sits at 2,887 per 100,000 - the same as Washington state. Albuquerque, the most populous city in New Mexico, has a crime rate well above the national average and local police reported that felony arrests soared by 12% in the first quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, the crime rate has increased by 5% since last year in the state capital of Sante Fe, according to the city's police department.
Perhaps the most surprising ranking in the report was the second most dangerous place - determined to be Colorado. Renowned for its breathtaking Rocky Mountains and lavish ski resorts including Aspen or Breckenridge, Colorado is not a state typically associated with danger.
But while the state has 36% less violent crime than New Mexico, its incredibly high property crime rate nearly eclipses New Mexico's and catapulted it to second place.
It's not the first time Colorado has ranked poorly for safety. A WalletHub list from last October ranking the safest states to live in put Colorado in 42nd place.
Colorado replaced Louisiana, which came in second last year but ranked third this time around. Violent crime in the Bayou state was 15% higher than in Colorado this year but its property crime rate was 8% lower.
Most of Louisiana's crime happens in New Orleans. However, the number of shootings, car jackings and armed robberies has recently declined in the city.
Two southern states, Tennessee and Arkansas, completed the top five of the most dangerous states in the US. While Alaska, Washington, California, Nevada and South Carolina rounded out the top 10.
On the other end of the list, New Hampshire was ranked the safest state in the US. It had 85% less violent crime and 69% less property crime than New Mexico. Maine came in at second safest while Idaho was ranked third safest.