3 Key Facts
- Overall Charlotte crime fell 23% in early 2026, including major violent and property offenses.
- Homicides rose 38%, with 22 killings and an 82% clearance rate by CMPD.
- Chief credits targeted patrols, CATS enforcement and community partnerships; CMPD plans continued proactive deployments.
Crime in Charlotte fell 23% in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Based on the data, which was released on Thursday, the department saw double-digit declines in several major crime categories compared to the same period in 2025:
- Violent Crime: Down 18% (1,108 offenses vs. 1,357 in 2025)
- Property Crime: Down 23% (6,778 offenses vs. 8,820 in 2025)
- Robberies: Down 26%
- Aggravated Assaults: Down 18%
- Residential Burglaries: Down 30%
- Vehicle Thefts: Down 34%
- Larcenies from Automobiles: Down 34%
While overall violent crime fell, homicides rose 38%, with 22 killings reported in the first quarter, which covers Jan. 1 through March 31. CMPD reported 16 homicides in the first quarter of 2025.
At a press conference on Thursday, Chief Estella D. Patterson said CMPD would use “every single tool we have in our toolbox to help prevent violence from happening.”…