Crime in Dallas’ downtown area is set to end 2023 up by more than 7% amid a longstanding police staffing shortage.
According to the City of Dallas crime analytics dashboard, some 4,595 criminal offenses were reported in the Dallas Police Department’s Sector 130 this year as of December 29, marking a 7.1% increase over the same period in 2022.
Downtown Dallas has been dealing with high levels of homelessness and vagrancy.
“[Vagrants] are individuals that end up staying on the street longer, the ones that need addiction support and mental health treatment, the ones stealing to eat. They’re assaulting people to get money. It creates a dynamic where they’re kind of in a fight or flight situation; they’re trying to survive,” MCBA CEO Louis Darrouzet previously told The Dallas Express.
Sector 130, which comprises Historic Downtown and Victory Park, saw increases in several categories of crime. Car burglaries have been the most common offense, with 1,029 recorded by authorities, a 10.2% spike over the 924 offenses committed last year. Motor vehicle thefts have also been very common. Some 944 are on the books this year, marking a staggering 39.9% increase over 2022.
Simple assaults also increased, jumping from 524 to 597, a 13.9% hike. Destruction, damage, and vandalism of property also saw a bump, with 443 offenses reported this year compared to 411 in 2022. Robberies have also spiked, increasing from 64 to 74 offenses.
A City analysis advised that some 4,000 police officers are needed to properly maintain public safety and keep police response times down, which has been an ongoing issue, The Dallas Express has reported. Only around 3,000 officers are currently in the field.
Roughly 80% of respondents to a poll conducted by The Dallas Express previously said they were concerned with the levels of homelessness, vagrancy, and panhandling seen in Dallas. Such polling also shows there is significant support for the “one-stop-shop” model employed by San Antonio’s Haven for Hope. The model has been credited with reducing homelessness in the city by 77%.
Some local stakeholders are working to bring the “one-stop-shop” model to Dallas, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. However, it is unclear whether City officials will adopt the approach.