Crime Incidents Remain Down in 2024, Property Crime Spikes After Tornadoes

Five months into 2024, the number of crime incidents reported by the Tallahassee Police Department remain down when compared to 2023.

However, during the four days after the May 10 storm – when three tornadoes that moved through Tallahassee – property crime spiked, increasing by 50% when compared to the monthly average.

TPD Incidents

The daily TPD incident reports indicate that the total number of crime incidents through May 31, 2024 are down 7.7 % when compared to the same period in 2023.

TR’s last report indicated the total number of crime incidents was down 11.1% year-to-date.

The numbers show that property crime incidents were down 6.8% and violent crime incidents were down 9.6% during the period.

Property crimes encompass burglaries, thefts, incidents of vandalism, and violent offenses, including aggravated assaults, armed robberies, and physical altercations.

While property crimes are down YTD, a closer look shows that property crimes were up 13.3% in May. This spike in property crime was driven by incidents that ocurred in the days following the May 10 tornadoes.

From May 11 to May 16, reported property crime incidents increased by 50% when compared to the monthly average. This increase was driven by commercial burglaries and auto related thefts and burglaries.

This increase had a significant impact on the YTD numbers. Without the increased numbers following the storm, property crimes would have been down 9.6% for the year.

YTD, residential burglaries were down 6.5% while commercial burglaries were up 6.8%.

The violent crime data during the period shows that robbery incidents were down 13.3%, while assault & battery incidents were down 7.6%.

Fatal Shootings

During the period, there have been 14 fatal shootings in 2024, compared to four fatal shooting deaths in 2023.

However, while the first four months of 2023 resulted in four fatal shootings, the rate of fatal shootings increased dramatically in 2023 from June 1 through December 31, with 20 fatal shootings.

TR will continue to provide an update to the crime incident report.