Sioux Falls Releases Latest Crime Statistics Update for 2024
Sioux Falls received some good news on crime recently, violent crime rates have dipped slightly in the city, while other crime numbers have either remained steady or ticked up slightly over the past year.
Dakota News Now reports that violent crime is at 5.88 per 1,000 people, dipping from 6.21 in 2023, while property crime rates sit at 39.93 per 1,000 people, that's about a full-point increase over 2023.
Other statistics regarding crime show that aggravated assaults are down by 52 instances while domestic assaults are up by 29. Robbery burglaries are down while thefts are up.
According to Dakota News Now, Mayor Paul TenHaken attributes the drop in violent crime in the city to the excellent work the Sioux Falls Police Department is doing to intervene early in these types of situations.
Sioux Falls has another bit of news to feel good about when it comes to crime, for the first time since 2017, the number of stolen cars in the city has dropped. To date, there have been 950 cars stolen in Sioux Falls this year, that's down 100 vehicles from this same time last year.
MORE: Preparing Your Body For A South Dakota Hunting Season
One of the biggest challenges the PD is facing right now in Sioux Falls is getting the issue of street racing and nuisance driving under control.
Minnehaha State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar told Dakota News Now, “We’re trying to make it very clear what behavior is unlawful, and then what those penalties are. So, I think that you’ll see proposed legislation in the organized racing, organized street takeovers.”
To help further crackdown on crime, Mayor TenHaken plans to hire even more police officers to inch closer to the city's authorized force number.
TenHaken says that will be a big step in ensuring the city can keep a handle on rising crime statistics in the future.
Source: Dakota News Now