TOLEDO, Ohio — Violent crime rates in Toledo dropped from 2022 to 2023, according to analysis released by Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz Tuesday.
Data from Toledo police shows that crime was down in five of six major categories tracked by the department.
Homicides were down 30.8%, robberies were down 21.5%, burglaries were down 11.5%, thefts from motor vehicle were down 26.4%, and persons shot were down 26.8%.
"As it turns out, 2023 was a much much better year in the city of Toledo across almost every category of crime that we measure," he said.
Only auto thefts saw an increase over 2022, with an 18.4% rise. The mayor said city officials have several theories about why car thefts increased.
"TikTok videos that encourage people or teach people to steal cars might be a part of it," Kapszukiewicz said.
While the rate of homicides declined in 2023, many of the city's killings involved young people -- a troubling trend. 12 of the city's 44 homicides involved victims younger than 18. In five cases teens were accused of shooting and killing someone.
Kapszukiewicz said city officials have pressed the court system to deliver serious consequences in homicide cases, no matter the age of the offender.
"We went over and met with the juvenile court, shared some ideas about coordinating a little better," he said. "Someone who commits a homicide needs to go to prison, and they need to go to prison for a long time, and in my judgment it doesn't matter what their age is."
Police Chief Mike Troendle said he is focused on reducing gun violence.
"What I want to do is try to reduce the number of people shot," the chief said.
A year ago, after three years of rising rates of violent crime in the city, the mayor and his team committed to releasing Toledo's crime statistics once each quarter.
"We are not yet at our pre-pandemic numbers, but we are approaching them, but I think we will get there, and then our goal will be to improve upon our pre-pandemic numbers," Kapszukiewicz said.
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