RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce shared new crime statistics in the Capital City during a news conference Tuesday, highlighting that several categories have seen drops in crime.
"Violent crime year-to-date is flat. No increase in violent crime from this time last year to today. We're seeing no change in homicides. Robberies are down 6%. Aggravated assaults are down 7%. In regards to property crime here in the Capital City, I'm proud to say property crime is down 12%. Commercial burglaries are up 3%. Residential burglaries are down 14%. Larcenies are down 3%. Larceny from motor vehicles are down 19%, and our motor vehicle deaths are down 27%. And if I may take a moment to highlight, motor vehicle thefts (are) down 27%," said Boyce, who added that the department is looking to establish a community violence interrupter program.
The report came as Boyce detailed the department's Summer Action Plan, aimed at addressing increased visitor numbers and several well-attended events. It comes on the heels of a report released last week by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, which showed Wake County received $3.5 billion in traveler expenditures last year, a 7.8% increase from 2023.
"We've heard really positive things. Crime is down downtown 15% year over year, which is great. We're seeing progress there. Some of the major categories in things like larceny, motor vehicle theft it's down over 30%, so that's really wonderful. We've seen good things from our various private vendors and police," said Bill King, President and CEO of Downtown Raleigh Alliance. King included the improvements in crime downtown during last week's annual State of Downtown Raleigh report.
"It's definitely important for the economic development aspect to that," said Crash Gregg, a Board Member with the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative.
Boyce discussed work in reorganizing the department's Hospitality Unit, an area that includes Glenwood South.
"I think one of the biggest things (Raleigh Police) have done to help curb crime and deter other crimes is they have a few of the four-wheel-drive ATVs they drive around, go into parking lots, go down different streets, go into areas that the police cars can't go," Gregg explained.
Gregg said he's noticed, and he appreciated the expanded presence.
"It's definitely a lot better crime-wise. Just walking down the street, you feel a lot safer than before," Gregg shared.
One area that Boyce did acknowledge RPD continues to try to address are noise violations, which he said are up from last year.
"We're deploying saturation patrols to address loud vehicles and excessive noise, especially in our high traffic areas. Here in the past two months, we've been very proactive in having to operation nuisance noise operations where Raleigh police officers are focusing on those modified mufflers on vehicles, as well as motorcycles and other loud vehicles traveling throughout on our roadways," said Boyce.
Boyce further emphasized the importance of strengthening communications between law enforcement and residents, highlighting several initiatives and events aimed at fostering relationships and transparency.
"Our officers here in Raleigh are responding to more calls for service. They're initiating more interactions with our community in a proactive manner, and this high level of engagement is helping to keep crime down," said Boyce.
Next month, the department is relaunching its Citizens Police Academy, part of the broader effort to improve engagement.
"We understand that we cannot be successful, we cannot fight crime if we don't have the support and the trust of our community," Boyce said.