Durham Sees 19.5% Drop in Violent Crime in Q2 2025

The Durham Police Department’s latest quarterly report shows encouraging progress on violent crime, even as property crimes remain a persistent challenge, especially in fast-growing areas like South Durham.

According to the Second Quarter 2025 Crime Report, released in August, violent crime in Durham fell by 19.5% compared to the same period last year. This includes double-digit declines across all major violent crime categories. Homicides are down 20.8%, aggravated assaults fell 24.6%, and rapes declined 11.5%. Robberies decreased by 8.8%.

Violent Crime Down, But Property Crime Still Dominates

While fewer people were victims of violent crime, property crime continues to dominate the city’s overall crime picture, comprising 87% of all Part 1 crimes in the first half of 2025. The largest category by far is larceny, which made up over 64% of reported Part 1 crimes.

Here’s how property crime trended citywide:

Category	% Change (2024-2025)
Burglary	⬇️ 10.5%
Larceny	⬇️ 1.5%
Motor Vehicle Theft	⬇️ 9.2%
Total Property Crime	⬇️ 3.8%

While the decline is notable, South Durham neighborhoods near NC Highway 55, T.W. Alexander Drive, and Fayetteville Road continue to report clusters of auto-related thefts, stolen firearms, and package larceny. Officers with Districts 4 and 5 made multiple arrests involving illegally possessed firearms and stolen vehicles.

South Durham in Focus: Crime and Community Response

Several incidents highlighted in the report underscore ongoing enforcement efforts in South Durham:

Falls Pointe at the Park Apartments (South Alston Avenue): Officer W. Mangum recovered a stolen vehicle and seized two handguns – one modified for automatic fire – following a foot chase. His investigation led to felony weapons charges, including possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
South Miami Boulevard, T.W. Alexander Drive, Ballmeade Bay: A 16-year-old was charged with multiple counts of breaking-and-entering motor vehicles and felony larceny.
Joy Mart (Roxboro St.): Officer N. Castelli arrested a suspect with an AR-15-style pistol and narcotics during a proactive patrol stop.

These examples speak to the intersection of vehicle crimes, drug offenses, and illegal firearms – a pattern echoed across multiple patrol districts.

Youth Crime and Diversion: A Mixed Picture

The data shows 350 juvenile offenses in the first half of 2025, with many involving serious charges:

22 weapons violations
125 larceny offenses
33 fraud-related crimes
Notably, three juveniles were charged with homicide.

However, police also highlighted the success of the Adult Misdemeanor Diversion Program (MDP), which targets younger adults (ages 18–26). Since its launch, the program has enrolled 460 participants with a 99% completion rate and only 4% recidivism. Referrals for mental health and employment assistance were the most used services.

Domestic Violence: Homicides Down, But Larceny Up

Domestic violence-related crimes dropped from 134 to 115 compared to the same time in 2024, with zero DV-related homicides reported in the first half of 2025. However, property crimes tied to domestic situations – especially larceny – have risen steadily, with 49 incidents reported in 2025 compared to 17 in 2023.

Clearance Rates: Durham Outpaces National Averages

Durham’s clearance rate for homicide cases reached 89.5%, far exceeding the national average of 57.5% (FBI data, 2023). Robbery and aggravated assault clearance rates are also trending higher than national benchmarks, but property crime clearance – especially for larceny and auto theft – remains low.

Crime Type	DPD Clearance (Q1 2025)	FBI Average (2023)
Homicide	89.5%	57.5%
Robbery	31.6%	22.3%
Burglary	18.0%	12.7%
Motor Vehicle Theft	5.5%	6.3%

Staffing Shortages Continue, But Recruiting Expands in South Durham

As of March 2025, DPD was operating at 72.2% of its authorized sworn staff (385 out of 533 positions). Recruiting efforts have included public outreach at The Streets at Southpoint, the launch of the DPD Run Club, and partnerships with schools like Jordan High School and Durham Tech.

Recruits in the most recent Police Academy were evenly split between Durham and non-Durham residents. Diversity efforts remain ongoing: 33% of applicants in Q2 were African American, and the department has launched Hispanic media outreach to widen its applicant base.

Officers Go Above and Beyond

Durham officers and units were recognized for exceptional efforts:

Officer T. Jones pulled a crash victim from a submerged car in high water on Cheek Road.
Cpl. D. Beugnot was honored for cooking Memorial Day meals for fellow officers and local firefighters.
Officer A. Misbah led a multi-agency speed enforcement operation along a dangerous stretch of Interstate 85.
Officer A. Molden recovered fentanyl and apprehended suspects with open warrants in separate stops.

Meanwhile, the Special Victims Unit was recognized as Unit of the Year and honored at a Durham Bulls game.

Organized Crime Division: “Operation Heating Up”

In late June, the DPD partnered with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force for a three-day enforcement initiative targeting violent crime. The result:

30 arrests
22 firearms seized, including illegal auto-sears
More than 1 kilogram of narcotics
$4,230 in cash

Among the most troubling findings were two handguns modified with auto-sears, a device that converts a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon – essentially turning it into a machine gun.

🔧 What is an Auto-Sear?
An auto-sear (often called a “Glock switch”) is a small device – typically no bigger than a quarter – that can be attached to a handgun to allow it to fire continuously with a single trigger pull. Under federal law, these devices are classified as machine guns, and their possession is a serious felony. Increasingly found through online marketplaces or 3D-printed at home, auto-sears pose a major public safety threat, particularly when encountered in drug trafficking or gang contexts.

Law enforcement officials note the rise in auto-sear seizures reflects a growing level of firepower on the streets, and reinforces the urgency of targeted operations like this one. One officer from South Durham recovered a similar weapon earlier in the quarter at an apartment complex off NC Highway 55.

Charges filed during the operation ranged from trafficking narcotics to weapons of mass destruction, with multiple suspects found in possession of stolen or illegally modified firearms. Several cases have been referred for federal prosecution due to the severity of offenses.

Looking Ahead

While the report shows signs of progress, especially on violent crime, property crime, and juvenile involvement remain key challenges, particularly in and around South Durham’s commercial and residential corridors.

As development in the Southpoint area continues, residents and law enforcement will need to stay engaged. Community policing, wrap-around services, and proactive patrols are likely to remain the foundation of DPD’s strategy moving forward.

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