RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Richmond Police Department held its annual end-of-year crime briefing for 2023 at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25.
At the briefing, Chief of Police Rick Edwards discussed Richmond’s crime statistics from 2023 and talked about what the department believes caused the rate of some crimes to go down. Topics such as the department’s continued efforts to make roads safer were also discussed.
According to Edwards, murders went up by 8% last year, with 64 reported in 2023 compared to 59 reported in 2022. Reported robberies were also up by 2%, with 223 in 2023 compared to 215 in 2022.
However, there was a significant decrease in non-deadly shootings last year, with 190 reported in 2023 compared to 257 non-deadly shootings in 2022. Edwards said overall violent crime has decreased by 7% last year and has been on a steady decline over the last seven years.
According to Edwards, the decrease in crime reported last year can be attributed to the department’s Operation Safe Summer, which took place from June 10 through Sept. 8, 2023.
The department also has access to a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machine, which can test any semi-automatic pistol that releases a cartridge when fired. The department reported 238 guns were able to be linked to other crime scenes using this technology.
There was an 11% decrease in traffic deaths in Richmond in 2023, with 25 compared to 28 in 2022. The department attributed the decrease in traffic deaths in 2023 to two “re-hires” of staff to work as motor officers and write tickets in areas with traffic complaints.
According to Edwards, total traffic citations and summons were up by 13% in 2023, with speeding, reckless driving and signal and regulatory sign violations being the most common.
The property crime rate in 2023 saw an overall increase of 9% compared to the previous year, with auto thefts driving the rate up with a 68% increase.
According to Edwards, Kia and Hyundai are the most commonly stolen vehicles in Richmond. In 2023, 848 Kia and Hyundai cars were reported stolen compared to 110 in 2022. Edwards said the Richmond Police Department is still giving out free car locks to residents who own Kia or Hyundai car models in order to prevent more thefts.
Thefts from cars were up by 15% in 2023, with 2,705 thefts reported. According to Edwards, 21% of those thefts were from unlocked cars. However, gun thefts from cars were down by 10%.
Edwards pointed to the Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond as being a hotspot for guns stolen from cars, as people participating in nightlife in the area will leave guns in their cars, knowing they will be searched before entering clubs and bars.
“We are just begging people, if you are coming into the city, don’t bring your guns to the Shockoe Bottom, because thieves know that” Edwards said.
Catalytic converter thefts were at a 73% decrease in 2023, with 185 reported in that year compared to 691 in 2022.
Edwards attributed a law change on July 1, 2023, which made possessing a catalytic converter without documentation of where it came from to be a class 6 felony, to have played a major role in the decrease in catalytic converter thefts last year.
According to the report, 56% of all shoplifting in Richmond occurred at Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) stores.
Since the skill games ban in Virginia was reinstated in October 2023, Edwards said all businesses have been complying to the ban and they have not made any arrests yet.
