Crime rates have dropped significantly in Washington, D.C., over the past month as residents have been forced to stay at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Metropolitan Police Department reported 1,631 incidents in the nation’s capital from March 20 through Monday compared to 2,566 during the same period in 2019. The difference is 935 acts of crime, making for a 36% decline year over year.
Both violent crime and property crime declined in incidents over the past month, but property crimes saw the biggest drops.
Property crimes dropped to 1,381 over the past month. Within the category, burglaries remained unchanged, while auto thefts plunged from 815 to 505. Other types of theft plummeted from 1,202 to 609 incidents.
Violent crime in both years only accounted for 10% to 15% of all crime. Assault with a dangerous weapon and robberies were the most-reported types of violent crime. Incidents of assault with a dangerous weapon went unchanged year to year with 111 incidents. Robberies dropped from 144 to 117.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency and public health emergency on March 11. On March 13, President Trump declared a national emergency, prompting some states to take actions that limit public interaction. Bowser announced on March 13 that public schools would be closed through March 31 and ordered residents on March 30 to stay at home.
Law enforcement officials from across the country told the Washington Examiner stay-at-home orders across 95% of the U.S. population may lead to a decline in crimes of opportunity because fewer people are out in public. However, some law enforcement are concerned about potential increases in property crimes and robberies if the economic recession continues.
Washington has a population of approximately 705,000 people.
