Dallas City Council District 8, represented by Council Member Tennell Atkins, has experienced a surge of robberies in the early months of 2023.
District 8 spans east to west from Seagoville to Cockrell Hill, making up the southernmost area of City officials’ jurisdiction.
According to the City of Dallas Open Data crime analytics dashboard, robberies were up 50% year-over-year in February. Atkins’ district also clocked a month-to-month increase, seeing a 28.6% spike between January and February.
District 8 is one of only a handful of districts bucking the citywide average, which has been trending slightly downward as far as robberies go. Still, Dallas has been seeing an enormous increase in murders since the beginning of the new year.
As of Sunday, March 26, there have been 73 murders committed in the city limits this year, 19 more than were logged during the same period in 2022, according to a Dallas Police Department (DPD) crime briefing.
In a statement provided to The Dallas Express, the Dallas Police Department reaffirmed its commitment to reducing crime in the city and offered tips for citizens looking to protect themselves from being robbed:
“We remind all citizens/visitors to always be aware of their surroundings. This advice not only applies to Dallas, but to anywhere they travel. When walking, use well-lit streets and avoid dark alleys, roadways or heavily wooded areas. Also remember, your life and safety are worth more than any personal property. If you are a victim of a crime, contact the police and report it.
“As we have said prior, we remain focused on the areas where violent crime is occurring and the men and women of the department are doing great work to reduce the number of incidents, and therefore the number of victims in those crimes.
“We continue to monitor data, crime trends, and work with our community and city leaders to reduce crime in the city. We will use all of the information gathered and make adjustments to the plan and patrol as needed to make Dallas a safer city for those who live, work and visit our great city.”
The Dallas Express contacted Councilman Tennell Atkins’ office for comment on the statistical increases in robberies in his district but did not receive a response by the time of this article’s publication.