Crime Trends Have Been Tough to Track. We Broke Down the 10 Biggest Cities

News Analysis

The Epoch Times’ analysis of data from several years shows that while the major crime spike in the largest U.S. cities has subsided, crime rates still exceed pre-2020 levels, particularly in car theft. Robbery rates, on the other hand, have significantly declined in some major cities.

In 2021, crime continued to rise, with 488 murders—the highest in a decade.

In 2023, murder dropped by another 11 percent but remained more than 20 percent above pre-2020 levels. Car theft and felony assaults increased again.

So far this year, murder seems to be decreasing, but still remains 20 percent higher than in 2019. Robberies and felony assaults are up from last year and more than 40 percent higher than in 2019. Car theft has decreased, but is still double the rate in 2019.

Los Angeles, Pop. 3.8 Million

Los Angeles has followed a similar trend to New York City, with a surge in crime in 2020 that continued until 2022. In 2021, the city recorded 401 murders—the highest since 2006.

Preliminary data suggests a slight decrease in crime in 2023, although murder is still 30 percent higher than in 2019, felony assault is up by about 17 percent, and car theft is up by over 70 percent.

This year, the LAPD has not been releasing weekly crime reports, citing a transition to a new system.

The department provided some figures for this year up to June 22, showing a 3.5 percent increase in violent crime and murders compared to the same period in 2023, an 18.5 percent increase in robberies, and a 4.2 percent increase in burglaries. Property crime has decreased by 3.1 percent.

Chicago, Pop. 2.7 Million

Chicago saw a significant increase in murders in 2016, which was partially controlled by 2019. However, in 2020, violence surged again, reaching 811 murders in 2021—the highest since 1995.

Since 2022, murders have decreased, but other crimes have continued to rise. This year, murder is up by 20 percent compared to the same period in 2019, robbery is up by 40 percent, aggravated battery is up by 4 percent, and car theft is up by 150 percent.

Houston, Pop. 2.3 Million

Houston struggled with a wave of violence starting in 2015, which intensified in 2020. In 2021, the city recorded 471 murders—the highest homicide rate since 1994.

Violence has decreased since then, but last year’s murders were still more than 20 percent higher than in 2019.

In the first four months of this year, murders seem to have decreased further, but aggravated assaults are nearly 20 percent higher than in 2019, and car theft is almost 50 percent higher.

Robberies, however, have been steadily declining since 2019, down by 25 percent in 2023.

Phoenix, Pop. 1.6 Million

Phoenix experienced a similar pattern, with a spike in violence in 2016, another increase in 2020, and a peak in 2022 with 217 murders—the highest since 2007.

In 2023, violence somewhat declined, but car theft increased by 22 percent.

In the first quarter of this year, murders decreased due to a calm March, with five murders. Car thefts and aggravated assaults barely changed, while robberies increased by 17 percent compared to the first quarter of 2023.

Philadelphia, Pop. 1.5 Million

After a record-breaking 562 murders in 2021, Philadelphia has seen a significant improvement. So far this year, the city has recorded 125 murders, compared to 265 by the same point in 2021, putting it on track for one of its least deadly years in decades.

Robberies and aggravated assaults have decreased compared to last year and even 2019. However, there has been a substantial increase in car theft—up by 160 percent—and retail theft, up by 186 percent compared to 2019.

San Antonio, Pop. 1.5 Million

San Antonio followed a similar pattern, with violence increasing in 2016, decreasing by 2019, then rising again in 2020 and peaking in 2022 with 230 murders—the highest rate since 1994.

In 2023, homicides decreased significantly, but car theft continued to rise, with over 19,000 vehicles stolen, the highest rate since 1992.

In the first five months of this year, murders are still up by 22 percent, robberies are unchanged, aggravated assaults have decreased by 13 percent, and car theft is up by 117 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

San Diego, Pop. 1.4 Million

San Diego has maintained crime rates around the national average, even with a spike in violence in 2020 that peaked in 2022 with 65 murders.

In the first five months of this year, 17 murders were reported, compared to 15 in the same period in 2019. Aggravated assaults have increased by about 27 percent, while robberies have decreased by 14 percent and car theft is only 8 percent higher than in 2019.

Dallas, Pop. 1.3 Million

Dallas saw an increase in murders in 2019, peaking in 2020. Murders then decreased for two years before rising again last year, along with a 40 percent increase in car theft.

In the first five months of this year, murders have decreased compared to last year but remain 28 percent higher than in 2019. Car theft has also decreased by about 25 percent but is still 50 percent higher than in 2020.

Comparisons with previous years are complicated by the city only providing monthly crime figures dating back to 2020. The Epoch Times has requested monthly car theft data for 2019 from the Dallas Police Department but has not received it as of press time.

Jacksonville, Pop. 986,000

With Florida’s growing population, Jacksonville is now the 10th largest city in the U.S. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has not released crime statistics in recent years, except for annual homicide numbers.

Based on data submitted to the FBI and state crime data program between 2016 and 2020, homicides and aggravated assaults have increased gradually, while robbery has declined and car theft has remained steady.

As of last year, Jacksonville had 121 homicides, down from 135 the previous year and 129 in 2019.

The Epoch Times has requested the missing crime statistics through a public records request but has not received them as of press time.