Year-end figures reported by police departments across Connecticut showed most major crimes declined significantly year-over-year from 2023 to 2024, with notable reductions in crimes against people, property and society.
According to data reported by Connecticut law enforcement, overall crime reports declined by 12.3% in 2024 from the previous year, with incidents falling from 140,528 to 123,267.
The year-end statistics found serious crimes occurring less frequently across the state. Murders declined by 34%, from 138 in 2023 to 91 in 2024. Reported rape cases fell from 770 to 687 year-over-year, down about 10.8%. Criminal sexual contact incidents fell from 942 to 787, down about 16.4%, and aggravated assaults fell from 3,100 to 2,921, a reduction of about 5.8%.
Crimes against property were also down in a number of categories including motor vehicle thefts and thefts from motor vehicles. Police reported 8,765 motor vehicle thefts in 2024, down 18.9% year-over-year. Meanwhile, thefts from motor vehicles also fell from 9,490 to 7,367, down 22.4% on an annual basis.
Burglaries and robberies also fell in a year-to-year comparison, with total burglary incidents declining from 4,659 to 4,152, about 10.9%, and robberies fell from 1,590 to 1,423, down 10.5%. Thefts from buildings – homes, businesses, and others – went down 18%, representing a decrease from 3,840 to 3,147, and arson reports dropped from 198 to 140, nearly 30%.
Cases of counterfeiting and forgery fell from 1,487 to 1,239, down 16.7%.
Police also reported declines in crimes against society including weapons violations, which fell from 3,721 to 3,094 – a reduction of 20.3%.
With the third-lowest crime rate in the United States, Connecticut’s violent crime rate is roughly one-fifth of the highest rate, where New Mexico sees 749 such crimes per 100,000 residents.
FBI statistics back up these findings – using 2023 statistics, Connecticut’s rates of 150 violent crimes per 100,000 residents and 1,558 property crimes per 100,000 residents were significantly lower than the national averages of 374 violent crimes and 1,917 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
