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Spotlight on Crime in Aurora, CO.

Introduction

Since 2019, crime in Colorado has skyrocketed to become a major issue for policy makers  across the state. Ahead of local elections, CSI is highlighting important issues, including crime, that local voters care about. This report analyzes the current state of Aurora crime and crime rates. Common Sense Institute (CSI) focused data from Colorado Crime Statistics and focused on statistics reported by the Aurora Police Department.[i] CSI aims to offset fear with facts. Media reports and anecdotal observations might not present the full picture. Actual crime data, especially compared to other jurisdictions and the entire state, clarifies reality. Statewide crime statistics combine both urban and rural areas, and because they are overarching, will often be lower than those of individual cities. Aurora’s data shows a darker picture than other cities as its crime rate has been increasing. Policymakers and local leaders can affect change more effectively as they understand CSI data. The number of crimes in Aurora, represented by the blue line in Figure 1, has averaged 24,132 since 2008 and fluctuated between 20,726 and 31,008 between 2008 and 2022. The volatility in total crime incidents was largely driven by changes in property crimes, including burglary, credit card fraud, vandalism, motor vehicle thefts, and theft from motor vehicles. The change in the annual number of crimes in Aurora tracks with a steady increase in Colorado crime through 2022 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 – Number of Crime Incidents in Colorado and in Aurora, CO.

 

Report Key Findings

  • Aurora crime is up.
    • Aurora’s crime rate rose 12.4% from 2008 to 2022. The crimes against persons rate rose 46%. The crimes against property rate rose 17.7%.
    • Aurora has a Crime Concentration of 151.6%, meaning Aurora’s crime is 51.6% more concentrated than Colorado’s. The likelihood of being a crime victim in Aurora is much higher.
  • Police strength and performance are down.
    • The arrest rate by the Aurora Police Department has decreased by 49.6% since 2008, while clearance rates have dropped 59%.
    • From 2008 to 2023, the Aurora Police Department Budget per resident increased 52.1% in nominal dollars, but only 7.4% in inflation adjusted dollars.
    • Aurora’s police force strength has not increased with the population. The number of Aurora Police Department personnel has increased 19.3% since 2008 but decreased 3.7% per 100,000 residents.
    • Aurora City Council revised its civil services hiring practices to remove inefficiencies and is implementing a new program to monitor crime rates, police department budgets, and manpower.
  • The number of sworn officers on patrol has increased by 15.4% since 2008 and there are 412.
  • Aurora Police Department response times have increased in all three patrol districts. From 2012 to 2022, response times rose 45.2% in District 1, 57.3% in District 2, and 33.6% in District 3.
  • Following the July 2022 change to penalties for motor vehicle theft in Aurora, motor vehicle theft rates have declined 28.6% from 630 per 100,000 residents to 450 per 100,000 in June 2023.

 

Crime Rates in Aurora

The data in this section come from Colorado Crime Statistics. Figure 2 shows the evolution of the average monthly crime rates in Aurora and Colorado since 2008. The average monthly crime rate in Aurora has increased by 12.5% from 688 per 100,000 in 2008 to 774 per 100,000 in 2022. Since 2008, the crime rate in Aurora has exceeded the state as a whole. As of 2022, Aurora’s crime rate is 36% higher than Colorado’s. In 2008, Aurora’s crime rate was 55.7% higher.

Figure 2 – Average Monthly Crime Rate per 100,000 in Aurora and Colorado

Figure 3 shows the average monthly rates of crime against persons per 100,000 residents in Aurora and Colorado. From 2008 to 2022, Aurora’s rate of crime against persons increased by 45.2% from 126 to 183 per 100,000 while Colorado’s rose by 56.9% from 66.3 to 104 per 100,000. In 2022, Aurora’s monthly crime rate against persons is 76% higher than for Colorado overall.

Figure 3 – Average Monthly Crime Rate per 100,000 in Aurora and Colorado – Crimes Against Person

Figure 4 shows the average monthly rate of crime against property per 100,000 residents in Aurora and Colorado. From 2008 to 2022, Aurora’s rate increased by 17.6% from 466 to 548 per 100,000 while Colorado’s increased by 27.6% from 322.5 to 411 per 100,000. In 2022, Aurora’s crime rate against property is 33.3% higher than for Colorado overall.

Figure 4 - Average Monthly Crime Rate per 100,000 in Aurora and Colorado – Crimes Against Property

Figure 5 shows the average monthly rate of crime against society per 100,000 residents in Aurora and Colorado. From 2008 to 2022, Aurora’s rate decreased by 56.8% from 96.8 to 41.8 per 100,000 residents while Colorado’s increased by 1.3% from 53.3 in 2008 to 54 per 100,000 residents in 2022. As of 2022, Aurora’s crime rate per 100,000 residents is 22.6% lower than for Colorado overall.

Figure 5 - Average Monthly Crime Rate per 100,000 in Aurora and Colorado – Crimes Against Society

Crimes against society include all crimes that are not crimes against persons or property. These include drug and narcotic violations, illegal betting and wagering, illegal gambling operations, illegal pornography, prostitution, and weapons violations. Figure 6 shows average monthly crime rates by major crime category in 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2023, as well as their changes from 2013 to 2018 and from 2019 to 2022. The total crime rate in Aurora increased by 14.6% from 2014 to 2018 and increased by another 9.7% from 2019 to 2023. Crime against persons fell by 4.6% from 2018 to 2023, after increasing between 2013 and 2018 by 56.3. Crime against property increased by 20.5% from 2018 to 2023. Crime against society decreased by 23.3% from 2019 to 2023 after increasing by 7.6% from 2013 to 2018. Some of the larger increases occurred in burglary, which increased by 17% from 2019 to 2023 after a 22.5% decline between 2013 and 2018, weapons law violation, which rose by 18.5% from 2019 to 2023 after a 10.7% increase between 2013 and 2018, aggravated assault increased by 59% from 2019 to 2023 following a 119% increase between 2013 and 2018, and auto theft, which increased by 122.9% from 2019 to 2023. A more comprehensive version of Figure 6 showing all categories of crime is provided Figure 20 in the appendix.

Figure 6 – Aurora Average Monthly Crime Rate per 100,000 by Crime Category

Aurora Average Monthly Crime Rate per 100,000 Residents
Crime Rate Percent Change
Average Monthly Crime Rate 2015 2018 2019 2022 2015-2018 2019-2022
Total Crime Rate Colorado 461.3 509.0 495.1 417.9 10.3% -15.6%
Total Crime Rate Aurora 573 657 646 708 14.6% 9.7%
Crimes against Person 113 176 176 168 56.3% -4.6%
Crimes against Property 400 416 410 495 3.9% 20.5%
Crimes against Society 60 65 59 46 7.6% -23.3%
Sexual Assault 11 16 17 11 39.9% -36.0%
Murder 1 1 1 1 -16.4% -0.8%
Robbery 12 14 14 13 23.6% -9.4%
Aggravated Assault 18 38 38 60 119.0% 59.0%
Weapons Law Violation 12 13 14 16 10.7% 18.5%
Burglary 48 37 35 40 -22.5% 17.0%
Theft from Motor Vehicles 34 43 37 39 25.7% 6.2%
Intimidation 3 5 5 3 85.8% -31.1%
Auto Theft 25 52 53 118 108.4% 122.9%
Source: Colorado Crime Statistics

 

Crime in Aurora Relative to Nearby Cities

Figures 7 and 8 show the average monthly crime rates per 100,000 residents in Aurora and cities nearby (Brighton, Commerce City, Denver, Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster). From 2008 to 2022 the annual crime rate in Aurora has risen 12.4% from 8,261 per 100,000 in 2008 to 9283 per 100,000 in 2022. From 2015 to 2018, Aurora experienced a 10.5% increase in the annual crime rate crime, the second highest increase. Thornton had the largest increase, 51.9%. From 2019 – 2022 the crime rate in Aurora increased 19.8%, the third largest increase in the crime rate relative to its neighbors. Denver had the second largest increase 39.9%. Westminster had the largest increase in the crime rate, 41.2%. Only Adams County experienced a decrease in crime from 2019 to 2022.

Figure 7 – Average Monthly Crime Rate in Aurora and Nearby Cities

 

Figure 8 – Changes in Average Monthly Crime Rates per 100,000 in Cities Near Aurora

Crime Rates per 100,000 Residents
City/Jurisdiction 2015 2018 2019 2022 Change 2013-2018 Change 2019-2022
Aurora 7,129 7,879 7,747 9,283 10.5% 19.8%
Adams County Sheriff 7,006 6,795 7,363 6,217 -3.0% -15.6%
Brighton 7,670 7,137 6,532 6,914 -6.9% 5.8%
Commerce City 7,431 7,529 7,387 8,033 1.3% 8.7%
Denver 720 811 827 1,157 12.7% 39.9%
Federal Heights 10,072 9,119 6,774 7,957 -9.5% 17.5%
Northglenn 7,163 7,917 8,039 9,390 10.5% 16.8%
Thornton 4,829 7,334 6,856 7,773 51.9% 13.4%
Westminster 6,234 6,483 6,191 8,740 4.0% 41.2%
Source: Colorado Crime Stats

Using the latest report from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) for the first quarter of 2023, CSI converted the number of crime incidents to crime rates based on the populations of each reporting city. 221 cities reported to the UCR in Q1 2022 and 2023. Figure 9 - shows Aurora’s’ rankings across several major crime categories. Aurora is in the top fifth (worst) nationally in all categories.

Figure 9 – FBI City Crime Rates Ranked Nationally

2022 and 2023 FBI 1st Quarter Colorado Crime Rates Ranked among Reporting Cities[ii]
 Year Violent Crime Murder Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Property Crime Burglary Larceny- theft Motor Vehicle Theft Arson
Arvada 2022 158 162 180 134 152 95 128 97 65 69
Arvada 2023 173 116 166 174 166 128 118 134 96 58
Aurora 2022 20 40 22 24 19 24 29 32 8 20
Aurora 2023 22 40 20 26 19 22 21 26 15 18
Boulder 2022 205 162 205 195 196 198 173 201 167 78
Boulder 2023 146 160 109 188 136 111 91 113 136 97
Centennial 2022 182 162 194 195 168 151 128 173 101 107
Centennial 2023 215 160 220 209 210 195 205 199 161 118
Colorado Springs 2022 33 29 15 40 32 25 22 23 26 10
Colorado Springs 2023 30 72 17 43 29 24 22 20 27 6
Denver 2022 13 20 6 14 14 7 9 7 1 11
Denver 2023 9 17 5 12 10 7 7 7 6 13
Fort Collins 2022 147 162 103 201 129 105 116 96 135 69
Fort Collins 2023 128 160 136 144 109 101 132 85 143 51
Lakewood 2022 68 100 74 49 75 45 51 53 31 51
Lakewood 2023 69 72 109 46 69 49 67 52 35 43
Longmont 2022 156 131 103 201 148 138 135 141 129 124
Longmont 2023 133 160 60 188 131 135 153 128 122 118
Pueblo 2022 55 73 46 34 63 59 53 68 41 41
Pueblo 2023 46 61 48 47 47 57 52 65 38 34
Thornton 2022 142 162 67 125 166 67 131 69 43 86
Thornton 2023 144 116 40 114 190 74 116 75 57 69
Westminster 2022 168 162 180 146 163 71 121 81 37 65
Westminster 2023 148 116 109 129 151 80 134 99 45 118
Quarterly Uniform Crime Report data for the nation are derived from National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) reports voluntarily submitted to the FBI. This report is based on data received from 12,104 of 18,964 law enforcement agencies in the country. The Quarterly release presents the number of violent and property crime offenses known to law enforcement for agencies with resident populations of 100,000 or more that also provided data from the previous year.

Based on the same data used in Figure 9, CSI ranked the ten Colorado cities against each other as shown in Figure 10. Aurora is ranked 2nd or 3rd worst in 10 crime categories. Denver is ranked the worst in all categories with the exception of arson.

Figure 10 - FBI City Crime Rates Ranked in Colorado

2022 and 2023 FBI 1st Quarter Colorado Crime Rates Ranked Among Reporting Cities[iii]
 Year Violent Crime Murder Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Property Crime Burglary Larceny- theft Motor Vehicle Theft Arson
Arvada 2022 9 7 9 7 8 8 8 9 8 7
Arvada 2023 11 6 11 9 10 10 8 11 8 7
Aurora 2022 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 3
Aurora 2023 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 3
Boulder 2022 12 7 12 9 12 12 12 12 12 9
Boulder 2023 9 9 7 10 8 9 6 9 10 9
Centennial 2022 11 7 11 9 11 11 8 11 9 11
Centennial 2023 12 9 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 10
Colorado Springs 2022 3 2 2 4 3 3 2 2 3 1
Colorado Springs 2023 3 4 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 1
Denver 2022 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Denver 2023 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Fort Collins 2022 7 7 7 11 6 9 6 8 11 7
Fort Collins 2023 6 9 10 8 6 8 9 7 11 6
Lakewood 2022 5 5 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 5
Lakewood 2023 5 4 7 4 5 4 5 4 4 5
Longmont 2022 8 6 7 11 7 10 11 10 10 12
Longmont 2023 7 9 6 10 7 11 11 10 9 10
Pueblo 2022 4 4 4 3 4 5 5 5 6 4
Pueblo 2023 4 3 5 5 4 5 4 5 5 4
Thornton 2022 6 7 5 6 10 6 10 6 7 10
Thornton 2023 8 6 4 6 11 6 7 6 7 8
Westminster 2022 10 7 9 8 9 7 7 7 5 6
Westminster 2023 10 6 7 7 9 7 10 8 6 10
Quarterly Uniform Crime Report data for the nation are derived from National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) reports voluntarily submitted to the FBI.  This report is based on data received from 12,104 of 18,964 law enforcement agencies in the country. The Quarterly release presents the number of violent and property crime offenses known to law enforcement for agencies with resident populations of 100,000 or more that also provided data from the previous year.

Crime in Aurora in 2023 YTD.

Figure 11 shows that the average monthly crime rate in Aurora peaked in March of 2021 at 914 per 100,000 residents, after which it averaged around 800 per 100,000 residents until mid-2022. Beginning in July 2022, it began to decline overall through June 2023 to 707 per 100,000 residents, a 22.7% decrease.

Figure 11 – Average Monthly Crime Rate per 100,000 from 2020 to 2023 YTD

Motor Vehicle Theft in Aurora

In July 2022, Aurora officials passed new ordinances addressing motor vehicle theft. With a year of motor vehicle theft following the changes, the monthly motor vehicle theft rate has declined 28.6% from 630 per 100,000 residents in July 2022 to 450 per 100,000 residents in June 2023. Figure 12 shows the monthly motor vehicle theft rate for Aurora, Denver, and the rest of Colorado (Aurora removed from overall Colorado stats). The motor vehicle theft in Aurora began to decline in March 2022, four months prior to the passage of the new ordinances, but there were disclosures of the City’s intention to introduce new ordinances prior to the July 2022 passage and it is likely that this signaling had an impact on thefts. After the passage in July 2022, the declines in the theft rate continued. Motor vehicle theft rate also declined in the rest of Colorado as well. It is possible that the actions by city officials in Aurora also impacted the theft rate in the rest of Colorado. Not long after the new ordinances were passed in Aurora, the State Legislature began to consider the issue and eventually resulted in the passage of SB23-097 in May 2023. It is plausible that the message that motor vehicle thefts were going to be treated more harshly going forward reached thieves and organized gangs and this curtailed their activities.

Figure 12 – Motor Vehicle Theft Rate in Aurora and the Rest of Colorado

Figure 13 shows auto theft rates for cities near Aurora in January 2020, March 2022 when they peaked, in July 2022 when the new auto theft ordinance in Aurora went into effect, and in March 2023, the last month that data is available for all nine cities. Since the vehicle theft ordinance went into effect in Aurora the theft rate declined in eight of nine cities, only in Brighton did they continue to rise. It is difficult to say that the change in the ordinance in Aurora reduced vehicle theft rates given that rates fell in seven of the cities nearby Aurora as well, and in four of those cities the decline was larger than in Aurora (Commerce City, Denver, Federal Heights, and Northglenn).

Figure 13 – Motor Vehicle Theft Rates in Cities Near Aurora

Motor Vehicle Theft Rates per 100,000 Residents
City/Jurisdiction Jan 20 Mar 22 Jul 22 Mar 23 Chg. Jan 20-Jul 22 Chg. Jul 22-Mar 23
Aurora 62.22 165.8 161.7 122.66 159.9% -24.1%
Adams County Sheriff 69.6 83.82 107.8 86.82 54.8% -19.4%
Brighton 44.67 70.38 50.96 58.25 14.1% 14.3%
Commerce City 32.17 124.6 138.3 75.97 329.8% -45.1%
Denver 62.22 204.9 182.6 137.25 193.5% -24.8%
Federal Heights 30.81 121.5 121.5 50.05 294.5% -58.8%
Northglenn 61.29 144.7 122.8 76.43 100.4% -37.8%
Thornton 33.99 62.91 72.7 58.02 113.9% -20.2%
Westminster 41.25 122.3 120.5 101.02 192.2% -16.2%
Source: Colorado Crime Stats
 

Arrests in Aurora

Figure 14 shows the number of arrests and the number of incidents of crime in Aurora. Over a period when the number of incidents of crime has increased 33.3% since 2008, the number of arrests by the Aurora Police Department decreased by 49.6%.

Figure 14 – Number of Crime Incidents vs. Number of Arrests – Aurora, CO.

 

Police Department Clearance Rates

From 2008 to 2022, the number of crime incidents has increased 33.3%, over the same time the incidence clearance rate for the Aurora Police Department has decreased 59% to 16.2% in 2022. Figures 15 and 16 show the Aurora Police Department clearance rates for overall crime incidents, crimes against person, crimes against property, and crimes against society. Clearance rates have been decreasing in all broad categories. Clearance rates are highest for crimes against society followed by crimes against person, and crimes against property.

Figure 15 – Incident Clearance Rates – Aurora Police Department

Clearance rates for crimes against person have decreased 46% to 15.6% in 2023, for crimes against property they have decreased 63.4% to 8.9% in 2023, and clearance rates for crimes against society have decreased 36.3% to 56.4% in 2023.

Figure 16 – Crime Incident Clearance Rates – Aurora Police Department

Crime Incident Clearance Rates – Aurora Police Department
All Offense Types - Clearance Rate Crimes Against Person - Clearance Rate Crimes Against Property - Clearance Rate Crimes Against Society - Clearance Rate
2008 37.9% 65.4% 24.4% 88.6%
2009 39.6% 66.3% 25.9% 91.0%
2010 37.8% 65.1% 24.5% 88.7%
2011 37.5% 63.1% 24.8% 88.6%
2012 39.8% 63.3% 27.2% 87.2%
2013 38.8% 62.2% 28.3% 86.2%
2014 41.1% 62.3% 30.3% 87.3%
2015 39.1% 58.2% 29.4% 82.7%
2016 33.8% 52.6% 24.3% 79.8%
2017 30.6% 49.4% 20.0% 76.2%
2018 30.1% 49.7% 19.6% 76.0%
2019 29.2% 45.9% 20.0% 74.0%
2020 20.5% 41.2% 13.3% 55.6%
2021 17.2% 38.0% 10.2% 56.5%
2022 15.6% 35.3% 8.9% 56.4%
 Change 2008 - 2022 -59% -46% -63.4% -36.3%

 

Police Department Budget

Figure 17 shows the per capita spending in nominal and real (inflation adjusted) terms for the Aurora Police Department budget. From 2008 to 2023, nominal expenditures per person increased 52% from $251 to $382. In inflation adjusted terms, spending per person increased 7.35%, from $251 in 2008 to $270 in 2023.

Figure 17 – Per Capita Spending by Aurora Police Department and the Crime Rate

 

Police Department Personnel

The number of personnel (FTE’s) in the Aurora Police Department increased 19.3% from 778 in 2008 to 928.5 in 2023. A more relevant measure is personnel per 100,000 residents. Figure 18 shows the total personnel (FTE’s) per 100,000 residents and the split between sworn (Civil) and civilian (Regular) personnel. By this measure total personnel declined 3.7% from 246 per 100,000 in 2008 to 236.8 per 100,000 in 2023. Sworn (Civil) personnel declined 17.5% from 231.1 in 2008 to 190.8 in 2023. Civilian (Regular) personnel decreased 9.3% from 50.7 per 100,000 in 2008 to 46 per 100,000 in 2023.

Figure 18 –Aurora Police Department Personnel

The Aurora Police Department is organized into three districts responsible for providing patrol services and specialized functions including investigations, and Police Area Representatives (PAR) officers for its geographic region. Figure 19 shows the personnel per 100,000 residents for all three districts combined. Total personnel per 100,000 residents have increased 12.2% from 381.5 in 2008 to 428 in 2023. Sworn (Civil) personnel per 100,000 have increased 15.4% from 357 per to 412 in 2023, indicating a larger public police presence. Civilian (Regular) personnel per 100,000 have decreased 34.7% from 24.5 in 2008 to 16 in 2023.

Figure 19 – Personnel in Patrol Districts in Aurora Police Department

 

Police Response Time

Figure 20 shows the Aurora Police Department’s average response time has been trending upward for all three of its patrol districts since 2015, indicating that the police are taking longer to arrive at the scene of an incident. From 2012 (first reported data) to 2022, in District 1 response times have increased 45.2%, in District 2 response times have increased 57.3%, and in District 3 response times have increased 33.6%.

Figure 20 – Aurora Police Department Response Rates

New City Policies

Recently, the Aurora City Council adopted changes to the Aurora Civil Service Commission’s hiring process. The new process has yielded results, according to Councilman Dustin Zvonek. The class size for basic police recruits is the largest in years.

 

Conclusion

The information in this report is intended to help voters and elected officials better understand the key areas of concern to better focus policy and resource discussions. The crime rate in Aurora is higher than in Colorado overall and is among the worst large cities in the country. The police department has been responding with increased spending and manpower, but it has yet to turn the tide of high crime.

 

Appendix

Figure 21 - Crime Rates in Aurora
Crime Rates in Aurora
Category of Crime 2013 2018 2019 2023 Change 2013-2018 Change 2019-2023
Crimes against Person 988.2 968.1 835.0 521.9 -2.0% -37.5%
Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter 0.0 1.8 0.6 0.6 1.7%
Negligent Manslaughter 0.0 1.2 0.6 0.0 -100.0%
Justifiable Homicide 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Kidnapping/Abduction 22.0 24.4 27.5 14.9 10.9% -45.9%
Rape 29.3 17.8 19.3 9.5 -39.2% -50.7%
Sodomy 4.7 1.8 2.9 3.6 -61.8% 21.8%
Sexual Assault with an Object 4.7 1.8 4.7 2.4 -61.8% -49.1%
Fondling 28.7 35.1 28.7 19.6 22.5% -31.5%
Incest 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2
Statutory Rape 2.7 0.0 2.3 0.0 -100.0% -100.0%
Aggravated Assault 172.6 186.7 172.6 123.2 8.2% -28.6%
Simple Assault 699.7 651.8 520.2 303.5 -6.9% -41.7%
Intimidation 24.0 45.2 55.6 43.4 88.4% -21.9%
Human Trafficking, Commercial Sex Acts 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0
Human Trafficking, Involuntary Servitude 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Crimes against Property 3922.9 3691.7 3664.4 2117.9 -5.9% -42.2%
Arson 7.3 7.1 4.1 7.1 -2.6% 74.1%
Bribery 0.7 0.6 1.8 0.6 -11.9% -65.9%
Burglary/Breaking & Entering 357.2 212.3 205.4 131.5 -40.6% -36.0%
Counterfeiting/Forgery 65.3 70.2 75.5 27.4 7.5% -63.7%
Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property 910.9 677.9 742.0 369.0 -25.6% -50.3%
Embezzlement 20.7 21.4 26.3 4.2 3.6% -84.2%
Extortion/Blackmail 1.3 10.1 11.1 19.6 660.2% 76.6%
False Pretenses/Swindle/Confidence Game 72.6 273.5 245.8 113.7 276.6% -53.8%
Credit Card/Automated Teller Machine Fraud 75.3 165.3 139.9 92.8 119.5% -33.6%
Impersonation 118.0 87.4 70.2 36.9 -25.9% -47.5%
Welfare Fraud 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Wire Fraud 62.0 12.5 12.9 41.7 -79.8% 223.7%
Identity Theft 0.0 63.0 67.3 65.5 -2.7%
Hacking/Computer Invasion 0.0 6.5 6.4 5.4 -16.8%
Robbery 25.3 22.6 21.1 16.1 -10.7% -23.7%
Pocket-picking 1.3 4.8 4.1 3.6 257.9% -12.9%
Purse-snatching 0.0 3.6 0.0 0.0
Shoplifting 524.4 451.9 408.5 287.4 -13.8% -29.6%
Theft from Building 246.6 229.5 221.2 66.1 -6.9% -70.1%
Theft from Coin Operated Machine or Device 4.0 3.6 2.9 1.2 -10.8% -59.4%
Theft from Motor Vehicle 458.5 390.7 507.4 257.1 -14.8% -49.3%
Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts/Accessories 108.0 126.7 131.1 161.9 17.3% 23.5%
All Other Larceny 756.3 680.3 579.9 251.7 -10.1% -56.6%
Motor Vehicle Theft 94.6 110.0 139.9 107.1 16.3% -23.4%
Stolen Property Offenses 12.7 60.1 39.8 50.6 374.4% 27.1%
Crimes against Society 369.8 650.6 578.7 434.4 75.9% -24.9%
Drug/Narcotic Violations 245.9 442.4 400.8 210.1 79.9% -47.6%
Drug Equipment Violations 65.3 111.8 83.1 179.7 71.2% 116.3%
Betting/Wagering 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Operating/Promoting/Assisting Gambling 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gambling Equipment Violations 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Sports Tampering 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Pornography/Obscene Material 10.0 17.3 24.6 8.3 72.5% -66.1%
Prostitution 0.0 4.8 0.6 0.0 -100.0%
Assisting or Promoting Prostitution 0.7 3.6 2.9 0.0 432.8% -100.0%
Purchasing Prostitution 0.0 14.3 11.7 0.6 -94.9%
Weapon Law Violations 48.0 51.1 51.5 32.1 6.6% -37.6%
Animal Cruelty 0.0 5.4 3.5 3.6 1.7%
Violent Crime 265.2 267.6 249.9 175.0 0.9% -30.0%
Murder 0.0 1.8 0.6 0.6 1.7%
Aggravated Assault 172.6 186.7 172.6 123.2 8.2% -28.6%
Non-consensual Sex Offenses 67.3 56.5 55.6 35.1 -16.1% -36.8%
Robbery 25.3 22.6 21.1 16.1 -10.7% -23.7%
Total 5281.0 5310.3 5078.2 3074.2 0.6% -39.5%

REFERENCES

[i] Colorado Crime Statistics (state.co.us)
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Colorado’s Public Safety Competitiveness Index has decreased 2.2% from 2011 to 2023. Coincidentally, Colorado’s relative ranking decreased seven spots from 24th to 31st among states and Washington, D.C.

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