The Houston Police Department’s annual “March on Crime” campaign will focus on reducing gun violence and carjackings as the region’s violent crime rate continues to decline.
During a news conference Wednesday, HPD Chief Troy Finner said the city would aim to maintain the region’s low crime rate while expanding youth programs and reducing domestic violence in the area. from Houston.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Finner said. “When someone is a victim of a violent crime here in this city, we stand behind them.”
Compared to this time last year, violent crime in Houston is currently down more than 22 percent, according to HPD data. The reduction is even more drastic compared to 2021: a drop of almost 27%.
Overall, Houston saw a nearly 8 percent decrease in violent crime last year compared to 2021, according to HPD data.
During Wednesday’s news conference, Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city’s One Safe Houston initiative, which was launched in February 2022, has had a positive impact on the crime rate.
“Thanks to this program and other combined efforts, the city of Houston saw a reduction in all major violent crime categories,” Turner said. “This is not only because of the additional officers on the street, but also because of the acceptance and support of the community.”
Additionally, non-violent crimes such as burglary, theft and auto theft are currently down more than 9% compared to this time last year. Those same crimes saw an increase of more than 8 percent compared to 2021, according to HPD data.
“Take your valuables out of your car, lock the doors and work with us as we try to make things safer in our apartment complexes, garages, wherever there are a lot of cars,” Finner said.
Finner also urged residents to properly secure guns when left in cars. About 1,000 guns have been stolen from cars in the Houston area this year, about 200 more than at this time last year, according to Finner.
