As the Charleston Police Department prepares to release its comprehensive 2024 annual report, preliminary data highlights key crime trends heading into 2025. By analyzing five-year data trends (2019–2024), the department provides a balanced perspective that aims to minimize the impact of outlier years and supports more accurate, informed decision-making. The data shared below is preliminary and will be finalized in the forthcoming annual report, which will be released in the coming weeks.
Key Crime Trends for 2024:
- Overall Crime: Decreased by 10.7% citywide.
- Violent Crime: Decreased by 5.7% citywide.
- Property Crime: Decreased by 12.2% citywide.
Significant Reductions in Specific Categories:
- Homicides: Six reported, a 47% decrease from the five-year average of 11.4 per year.
- Robberies: 68 incidents, a 22.7% decrease.
- Sexual Offenses: 36 incidents, a 28.9% decrease.
- Burglaries: 221 incidents, a 21.5% decrease.
- Motor Vehicle Thefts: 340 incidents, a 27.9% decrease.
Areas of Increase:
- Aggravated Assaults: 328 incidents, representing a 4.3% increase over the five-year average of 314.4.
- Theft from Motor Vehicles: A slight increase of 0.7%, with 785 incidents compared to the five-year average of 779.6.
- Firearms Stolen from Vehicles: 194 firearms were stolen, an 8.2% increase.
Overdose Trends:
- Overdose Incidents: 132 total, reflecting a 32% decrease overall.
- Overdose Deaths: 31, a 32.6% decrease from the five-year average of 46 deaths.
Impaired Driving and Fatal Collisions:
- DUI Arrests: 592, a 31% increase from 2023’s total of 452 arrests.
- Fatal Collisions: 10 in 2024, a 40.5% decrease from the five-year average of 16.8 per year.
Chief Chito Walker praised the efforts of the Charleston Police Department's officers and professional staff, as well as the community's vigilance in reporting and helping to solve crimes. "These reductions reflect the dedication and hard work of our team and the proactive efforts of our community. As we move into 2025, I urge our citizens to remember that the right to carry comes with the responsibility to secure your weapons. A vehicle is not a secure storage facility for valuables or firearms. Remove these items and lock your vehicles to help us continue reducing crime and keeping Charleston safe."
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Media Release
Release Date: January 13, 2025
Media Contact: Sgt. C. Stinson