Homicides, vehicle thefts down; burglaries up
TOLEDO – New data reveals a significant decrease in Toledo crime rates across multiple categories. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle announced the 2024 third-quarter findings during a press conference at the Safety Building in October.
Key statistics and major reduction in Toledo
The data indicates Toledo is making substantial strides in reducing crime in critical areas, such as homicides and theft from motor vehicles. “This progress reflects the tireless efforts of our officers and the unwavering support from our community and administration,” said Troendle.
“When I took over, we focused on getting officers back on the streets to be proactive after the challenging times following COVID and the George Floyd incident. We emphasized that our community needs and supports them, and that mindset has paid off,” he added.
According to the report, homicides have dropped by 16 percent, with 27 incidents reported this year compared to 32 in 2023. Similarly, robberies saw a 5 percent decrease, with 292 cases reported in 2024, down from 307 in 2023.
One of the most significant drops was in theft from motor vehicles, which saw a 26 percent reduction – 857 incidents this year compared to 1,164 last year.
“Our gun intelligence center targeted some of our most prolific shooters with federal assistance. Removing those individuals from the streets has significantly curbed incidents of theft and gun violence,” said Troendle.
Additionally, the number of persons shot slightly decreased by 1 percent, totaling 154 incidents in 2024, down from 158 in 2023.
Challenges and areas of concern
While most crime categories showed improvement in Toledo, burglaries saw a slight increase of 0.2 percent, with incidents rising to 1,027 cases. Conversely, auto thefts decreased by 12 percent, with 901 incidents reported this year, compared to 1,023 last year.
Albeit the increase, Troendle said there has been a year-to-year reduction over the last 12 years in Toledo, and this is the first minor blip.
“I truly believe nothing will harm the city more than having a high burglary rate because if you are unable to enter your own home and feel that you are safe and protected, then you’re going to leave the city,” he said.
Continued efforts and community participation
During the press conference, Kapszukiewicz and Troendle emphasized that while these statistics are encouraging, this is an ongoing effort, adding that the city needs to lean on its residents, community leaders and law enforcement to sustain and build upon this positive trend.
“The progress we’ve seen in crime reduction reflects the hard work of our community, law enforcement and MONSE (Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement). We will build on this momentum to ensure Toledo remains a safe place for all of our residents,” says Kapszukiewicz.
Kapszukiewicz ended the conference with a call to action for all city residents to remain engaged and supportive of local initiatives designed to further reduce crime.
“While we celebrate these achievements, we still recognize the challenges ahead in keeping our neighborhoods safe. Together, we will continue to work towards a more hopeful and safer future for all Toledoans.”
