Crime in Syracuse was a mixed bag in 2024, and city leaders want to make sure all numbers are going in the right direction in the new year.
Violent crime like homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault fell 8.6 percent last year compared to 2023, and 9.3 percent over the past five years. Mayor Ben Walsh says he’s cautiously optimistic.
“Violent crime year over year is down. That’s very encouraging," Walsh said. "Of course, there's always work to be done, but we are encouraged by those numbers.”
There were 22 homicides in 2024, down two from the year before. Only one remains unsolved, which means Syracuse Police have maintained one of the highest solve rates in the nation. Walsh says he’s also encouraged that the number of shots fired calls fell 27 percent, and those injured or fatally shot dipped 41 percent.
Property crime, however, continues to be an ongoing problem in Syracuse, including burglary, larceny, and especially stolen vehicles. But Walsh notes the number of stolen cars is trending downward.
“In June, stolen vehicles were up 60%. That number right now is 14.3," Walsh said. "So we have started to see a decline in those numbers and importantly in those stolen vehicles which have just wreaked havoc on our community.”
Overall, stolen cars jumped more than 11 percent compared to 2023, and 85 percent over five years.
Walsh says public safety also includes efforts to reduce traffic fatalities among drivers and pedestrians. He says the city continues to roll-out components of its Vision Zero plan.
“Things like speed humps, for example, to help slow traffic. Our school zone speeding cameras and red light cameras, which we're going to be rolling out in 2025," Walsh said. "Those are all those are all aspects of it, our municipal sidewalk program, making sure that pedestrians, which is a big portion of our population, have safe, accessible sidewalks to use.”
Walsh encourages residents to share their observations about their driving or walking routes on the city’s website to better guide city resources. They’ll be gathering feedback for the remainder of the month.
