Violence decreases, thefts rise in big cities; trends link to pandemic, TikTok

Members of law enforcement stand near police tape while investigating the scene where multiple people were shot, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Holyoke, Mass. State police say at least three people, including a person riding a bus, were shot Wednesday in Holyoke following a fight on a downtown street. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

By TopTrendReportTv

October 17, 2023

The FBI's 2022 crime report reveals a drop in violent crimes like murder, rape, and assault, but there's been a rise in car thefts and larceny. The report documents over 11 million crimes, sourced from law enforcement agencies serving 93.5% of the U.S. population. There was a 1.7% decrease in violent crime, with significant reductions in homicides (6.1%).

Research by AH Datalytics indicates major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Philadelphia saw considerable declines in homicides in 2023. However, cities like Cleveland, Dallas, Memphis, Miami, and Washington, D.C. experienced heightened violence. Washington, D.C., for instance, marked its third consecutive year with over 200 homicides.

Despite the overall drop, robberies rose by 1.3% in 2022, possibly influenced by an 8.1% spike in carjackings. Most carjackings involved weapons and happened between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. Property crimes also increased by 7.1%, with larceny and theft rising by 7.8%. Motor vehicle thefts surged by 10.9%, with juveniles playing a significant role.

A concerning trend is the "Kia Boyz TikTok challenge," teaching individuals how to hijack older Kia and Hyundai models using simple tools. This has contributed to a noticeable increase in vehicle thefts, especially in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland.

Chicago has reported nearly 23,000 stolen vehicles in 2023, a sharp increase from last year. Oakland and Minneapolis also noted significant thefts, with concerns raised over the involvement of young individuals.

There's been a distinct increase in juvenile fatalities due to gunfire, but adult fatalities decreased. Additionally, assaults on police officers grew by 1.8%.