Wichita homicides up 86%, but other violent crimes drop
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita is dealing with an 86% increase in homicides this year. The Wichita Police Department says there have been 13 in the first four months of 2024, compared to seven last year.
The WPD released the numbers Wednesday morning, saying it is part of the department’s commitment to transparency.
Wichita violent crime comparison:
Category | 2024 YTD | Last year YTD | Change | 5-year YTD Average | 5-year Change |
Criminal homicide | 13 | 7 | Up 86% | 13 | No change |
Rape | 68 | 129 | Down 47% | 129 | Down 47% |
Robbery | 116 | 132 | Down 12% | 135 | Down 14% |
Aggravated assault | 1203 | 1261 | Down 5% | 1223 | Down 2% |
Overall, the WPD said violent crimes are down 8% compared to last year and 7% compared to the five-year average.
Union: Firefighters working in park was not by choice
There is an increase in some property crimes. Auto thefts are up 14% from this time last year.
Wichita property crime comparison:
Category | 2024 YTD | Last year YTD | Change | 5-year YTD Average | 5-year Change |
Burglary | 668 | 728 | Down 8% | 740 | Down 10% |
Larceny | 5062 | 4879 | Up 4% | 4758 | Up 6% |
Auto Theft | 743 | 652 | Up 14% | 743 | No change |
Overall, the WPD says property crimes are up 1% over 2023 and 2% compared to the five-year average.
“We’re encouraged by the decrease in violent crime, and there’s more work ahead to keep Wichita safe,” the WPD posted on social media. “We’ll keep engaging with our community to keep our city safe for everyone!”
Kansas lawmakers pass new tax package before final adjournment
Police said the numbers are not official and continually change. Also, averages and the percent change are rounded to the nearest whole number.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
