Crime is down in Moore Square due to additional patrols, Raleigh city leaders say
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- New data from Raleigh Police shows that the crime trend in downtown Raleigh has been improving in the last year.
Numbers on crimes including robberies, burglaries, homicides, and assaults are down 22% from the first quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024.
Zooming in on the problem areas of Moore Square and the nearby GoRaleigh Transit Center specifically, that number is down 50% during the same period.
It's welcome news for some of the most vocal business owners who brought their safety concerns to City Council.
"They are afraid to come to downtown Raleigh," Rusty Sutton told councilmembers at a safety meeting last September.
At the time, Sutton, the owner of the Green Monkey on Wilmington Street, said crime had gotten so out of hand it was hurting his business.
But today, he feels much differently.
"We and the customers that have been with us since we moved here in August have even told us, oh, it's gotten a lot better. And so we're just we're happy with everything that we're seeing," he said.
RPD says more foot patrols and teaming up with private security have had an effect.
"We'd like to be able to use as much pressure as necessary and as little as possible when it comes to the enforcement of criminal activity in the downtown area. And by that I just mean that we are constantly reassessing the measures that we're taking to make sure that they are consistent with a flow of activity downtown that really allows people to feel like they are welcome to be here, they're protected while they're here," said Capt. Matt VanAntwerp with the downtown division of RPD.
At the beginning of April, City Council voted to extend its contract with Capitol Special Police for another three years. It has been manning added patrols of the GoRaleigh Station since December.
At Moore Square, you could see an uptick in families with children playing and a more vibrant park.
But despite the numbers, perception can still be reality and Sutton said people should take a chance on visiting downtown.
"We are taking it back. And we just want the citizens of Raleigh to know we are. This is not B.S. We are seeing differences. Please come back there," Sutton said.
RPD hopes those patrols will stay vigilant heading into the summer because historically that time of year there's been an uptick in crime.
But police are also encouraged by their camera registration program - more homes and businesses have signed up to share their video data in real-time to help solve crimes when they happen.
WATCH | City extends contract for Capitol Special Police security patrols near GoRaleigh station
