Crime Drops Sharply in 2025 | Topeka News

Topeka News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 19, 2026 · 1m

Crime’s on a steep decline nationwide—violent offenses down 9.3% year-over-year, murders plummeting 18.1% to levels last seen in the mid-50s. Property crime also dropped 12.4%, with car theft and burglaries falling sharply. Experts point to post-pandemic normalization, policing shifts, and demographic changes—not just new policies—as drivers. The trend began before the current administration, and early 2026 data shows momentum continuing: violent crime down another 10.6%, murders off 23%. Still, less than half of reported violent crimes are cleared, and some assaults remain above pre-pandemic…