SPOKANE, Wash. — A recent police report shows property crime in Spokane is down, but some in the community said they haven’t felt the difference.
Property crime includes theft, burglary, vandalism and auto theft. The latest Spokane Police Department data reports a decrease of almost 1,000 property crime incidents since 2023, dropping from around 2,100 to about 1,200.
The dramatic decline marks the lowest property crime levels the city has seen in three years. Violent crimes and domestic violence incidents have also decreased during the same period.
Despite the drop, some Spokanites said it’s hard to feel the improvement.
“I think the hard part is when you look at crime on a data sheet and you see it going down, it’s different than what you see when you go around,” said Bryce Biggerstaff, a Spokane native and father of three.
Biggerstaff said many places he grew up going in Spokane no longer feel safe.
“As much as I love being down here (downtown) there is just certain times and certain places that we choose differently as parents,” Biggerstaff said.
Crime has remained a persistent concern for Spokane residents, particularly following the surge in criminal activity around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new data suggests the city may be turning a corner, though community members remain cautiously optimistic.
Some credit increased police visibility with the improved crime statistics.
“I’ve noticed recently that I see a lot more police officers out in my neighborhood, and they move people along and check in on what’s going on. That’s the level of policing that we have not seen in a long time,” said Pia Hallenberg, president of the Riverside Neighborhood Council.
While some residents report noticing small improvements, many say it will take sustained progress before they feel genuinely safer in their neighborhoods.
“It might take time… not to say that the data is wrong, but it’s going to take time, I think, for people to feel safe again,” Biggerstaff said.
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