Crime Drops in Charlotte, But Homicides Climb in First Quarter of 2025
Charlotte is seeing a notable dip in overall crime, according to new numbers released Thursday by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Crime across the city fell by 6% from January through March compared to last year.
The data, part of CMPD’s first quarter 2025 crime report, shows a 17% drop in violent crime and a 4% decrease in property crime—both encouraging signs of progress in community safety efforts.
But the report wasn’t all good news: homicides saw a troubling rise. CMPD recorded 32 homicides in the first quarter of 2025, up from 20 during the same stretch in 2024.
Police say they continue working with community groups and outreach programs to address the root causes of violent crime, even as overall numbers show promise.
Check out the breakdown of crimes and comparisons below:
| Crime | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes | 1,344 | 1,626 |
| Homicides | 32 | 20 |
| Aggravated assaults | 1,026 | 1,203 |
| Rapes | 36 | 62 |
| Armed robberies | 156 | 211 |
| Residential burglaries | 382 | 420 |
| Commercial burglaries | 864 | 863 |
| Larcenies from automobiles | 2,510 | 2,358 |
| Vehicle thefts | 1,530 | 1,939 |
| Arsons | 39 | 41 |
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Homicides increased in the first quarter of 2025, with 32 people killed in Charlotte between January 1 and March 31 — up from 20 during the same period in 2024.
CMPD Press Conference:
