Is the Triangle getting safer? New crime statistics in Raleigh and Durham suggest so

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Newly released crime statistics from Raleigh Police show things are moving in the right direction.

The latest annual data from 2025 found that overall violent crime -- including homicide, robbery, and assault, down 1% from the year before.

Property crimes such as burglaries and theft are also trending downward, dropping 17%.

One area seeing a major drop is car thefts, with a big dip during the last quarter of 43%, and more than 300 cars were recovered.

RPD said it has been focused on its Auto Theft Task Force. It said investigators have been able to use technology to focus on recovering stolen cars.

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"I think the property crimes going down, we had a motor vehicle task force that was very effective," said Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell. "We have had this connect camera program where every day residents who have all these ring cameras, you know, other things that they're using, they can register those and if there is something that happens near your house or, you know, in your neighborhood, they could call up and try to get that footage that is helping us solve almost 100% of homicides in the city."

Crime also decreasing in Durham

They've also been collaborating across the Triangle. The Bull City is also seeing a drop in crime.

Mayor Leonardo Williams said the city has been able to promote community outreach while also allowing police to focus on more serious crimes.

"So there's appreciation on the policing side of the law enforcement side of it," Williams said. "But on the other side, we have more resources, what we're responding to, such as our HEART program. When you call on one in Durham, you can't win one. You've got to be able to tell what your emergency is, and we'll send the right response. And that is allowing us to see inward on the types of issues that folks are dealing with."

Officials in both cities said they've also been focusing on mental health and community outreach, with programs such as ACORNS in Raleigh and the HEART program in Durham.

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