CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Charlotte Mecklenburg Police officials say there is some encouraging news in its 2024 Public Safety Report.
Despite arrests being up 5%, for a total of about 15,000, overall crime was down 3% compared to the year before.
That includes a 4% decrease in property crime, though a 3% increase in violent crimes offset that.
Auto thefts were down in 2024, including a 15% reduction in Kia and Hyundai thefts that were blamed on social media.
CMPD is also reporting another decline, of 88%, in street takeover events, and they say juvenile crime was down overall last year, by 9%.
Chief Johnny Jennings says plans are in the works to free up more officers to be able to respond to calls.
“I’m proud of the men and women who worked so hard to lower crime across the city, but also for the way they came together during our worst day on April 29 after losing four officers including one of our own, Officer Joshua Eyer, in the line of duty,” said Chief Jennings. “We learned a lot about each other in 2024. We are a close group and a resourceful one. Each day, our officers are out trying to make the community safer, and the data shows they are doing an excellent job providing the type of service our neighborhoods need.”
The department is also announcing a plan to do something about a recent string of shootings into homes with people inside.
Officials say the program will offer cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest for those types of incidents.
See the full 2024 Public Safety Report below:
