Record Drop in US Homicides in 2023 Despite Rise in Assaults and Car Thefts

Public Perception of Crime Remains High as Experts Attribute Decline to Pandemic Receding and Increased Law Enforcement Cooperation

Homicides in the United States have seen a record drop in 2023, with preliminary data indicating a decline of nearly 13% from the previous year.
Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago have experienced significant declines in homicides, with double-digit percentage drops.
Despite the overall decrease in crime, car thefts and assaults have seen an increase in 2023, with a particular surge in car thefts partly attributed to a TikTok trend.
Public perception of crime rates remains high, with a recent Gallup poll indicating that more than 77% of Americans believe there is more crime than there was a year ago.
Experts attribute the drop in crime rates to the pandemic receding and increased cooperation between federal and local authorities.