New Durham County Sheriff's Office report reveals overall drop in crime
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- There has been an overall drop in crime in Durham County over the last five years, a new sheriff's office report revealed.
"The great (progress) we are making on the wider crime front is a result of the excellent work our deputies and investigators are making as well as receiving solid leads from the community," Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said. "However, multiple incidents involving firearms - be it weapons stolen from unsecured motor vehicles to our Patrol Units making seizures to get guns off the street - remain a challenge. I applaud our Anti-Crime and Narcotics Unit (SAC/NARC) and other strategic crime-fighting initiatives in place to keep making progress across Durham County."
Breakdown of the numbers:
- There is a significant drop in property crimes
The sheriff's office reported 470 property crimes in 2024, which is a 27% decrease compared to 2020.
- Violent crime, including murder, rape and robbery is down
There is a 4% decrease compared to 2023
- High rate of firearm incidents remains
The sheriff's office said 304 guns were seized in 2024, and 35 guns reported lost or stolen. This is a slight increase from 2023.
"We continue to ask community members to remember to secure your vehicle, park in well-lit areas, remove spare car keys, valuables, and firearms from your vehicle," Birkhead said. "Please report any suspicious activity immediately to 911."
This comes after Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams delivered his second State of the City Address last Tuesday.
He said he was going to address youth gun violence as a public health crisis and promised to continue to seek solutions to the problem.
"Durham is resilient, y'all," Williams said. "We are forever cemented in being the best person, the best neighbor, family member and community member that we can be."
ABC11's DeJuan Hoggard contributed.
