Virginia Beach, VA – In a recent presentation to the City Council, Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate unveiled the 2023 crime statistics, highlighting a decline in both violent and property crimes throughout the city. The detailed data covered Part I crime categories, including violent crimes such as homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, as well as property crimes including burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft from motor vehicles, and all other larceny. Chief Neudigate also shared insights into the department’s efforts to mitigate traffic violations citywide in 2023.
Key points from the report include:
- A total of 8,339 Part I crimes were reported in 2023, with violent crimes accounting for 533, or 6.4%, marking a 6.4% decrease compared to 2022.
- Property crime experienced a 7% decline from the previous year, with significant reductions in larcenies from motor vehicles (down 36%) and motor vehicle thefts (down 24%), reaching the lowest figures in four years.
- Despite a slight increase in violent crimes, with 18 more offenses reported in 2023 compared to 2022 (a 3.5% rise), it remains the second lowest year for violent crimes in the past five years.
- The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) confiscated 1,447 illegally possessed firearms in 2023.
- The city’s homicide clearance rate stood at 83%, significantly above the national average of 52%, with 24 homicides reported last year.
- Virginia Beach boasted the lowest homicide rate per 100,000 residents among cities with populations between 400,000 and 600,000.
- Traffic crashes decreased by 6% from 2022 and 15.3% since 2021, while traffic stops increased by 7.2% since 2022 and 19.5% since 2021. Speeding citations rose by 30.1% in 2023.
Chief Neudigate attributed the positive trend in crime reduction to the strategic use of data and analytics, combined with effective policing methods. Over 17,000 hot spot patrols were conducted in areas identified by the Analytic Services Unit as having emerging crimes and trends. This data-driven approach has enabled VBPD to efficiently allocate resources, detect criminal patterns, and implement proactive strategies to improve public safety, transparency, and accountability in law enforcement practices.