Introduction

Denver’s issues with crime and homelessness have dominated much of the city’s policy discussions in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. As the city’s 16th Street attractions open after years of construction, it is important to note that crime is highly localized. 

Broadly, the number of total crimes committed in Denver is less now than at the recent peak of Denver’s crime in 2022. However, data paints a different picture when isolated by crime type, time frame, and police district. Some areas are improving while others, particularly the downtown Denver police district, are worsening. A police district is a specific geographic area within a city, county, or municipality that is assigned to a particular division or unit of a police department.

There are fewer murders compared to 2020, but there are more robberies and aggravated assaults, and the number of murders has risen in the downtown District 6 both since last year and since 2020. The public and its leaders should be aware of the highly localized character of crime, particularly violent crime, in a moment where revitalization campaigns are in full strength.

Key Findings

•  As a city, Denver’s total crime through the first half of 2025 has been lower than in previous years.
•  Compared to the first half of 2024, there were fewer drug and alcohol crimes (-2%), burglaries (-7%), thefts from motor vehicles (-14%), robberies (-18%), auto thefts (-36%), and murders (-44%) in 2025.
• Compared to the first half of 2024, there were more crimes against persons with an increase of 25%, other crimes (14%), larcenies (8%), white collar crimes (7%), public disorderly crimes (1%), and aggravated assaults (1%).
• Most Denver violent and property crime categories are still above their 2020 levels.
• Compared to the first half of 2020, there have been 56% more other crimes against persons, 52% more drug and alcohol crimes, 38% more aggravated assaults, 23% more all other crimes, 22% more public disorder crimes, 21% more larcenies, 20% more white collar crimes, 18% more arsons, and 12% more robberies. 
• Murders in downtown District 6 have increased compared to both last year and 2020.
• District 6 accounts for 25% of the city’s violent crime victims.
• Aggravated assaults have risen in District 4 by 16%, District 6 by 24%, and District 7 by 33% since 2024.
• Only District 3 and District 4 have seen a decrease in auto thefts compared to 2020.

Denver’s Police Districts and Crime Categories

There are seven police districts in the City of Denver, organized into groups of the city’s 78 statistical neighborhoods, displayed in the image below. For this analysis, CSI isolated the number of crimes in each district tracked by the Denver Police Department from January 1 through July 1 for the years 2020 through 2025. CSI analyzed crimes by their category: 

• Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter: The unlawful killing of a human being.
•  Robbery: Taking property by force or threat of force.
• Aggravated Assault: An unlawful attack with intent to inflict severe injury.
• Burglary: Unlawful entry of a structure to commit a crime.
• Theft: Unlawful taking of property (excluding auto theft).
• Motor Vehicle Theft: Theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
• Arson: Willful or malicious burning of property.
• Public Disorder: Crimes like disorderly conduct, public intoxication, etc.
• Larceny: The unlawful taking of property, a subset of theft.
• Theft from Motor Vehicle: A specific type of theft targeting vehicles.
• Drug and Alcohol Offenses: Violations related to controlled substances and alcohol.
• Other Crimes Against Persons: This category includes offenses like simple assault, harassment, and other violent crimes not classified as aggravated assault.
• White-Collar Crime: Crimes involving fraud, embezzlement, and other financial schemes.

Figure 1

Denver Crime

As a city, Denver’s total crime through the first half of 2025 has been lower than in previous years. Auto thefts and thefts from motor vehicles in the first half of 2025 have now returned to the level of the first half of 2020. The number of citywide murders and burglaries has also declined. 

Figure 2

Most violent and property crime categories are still above their 2020 levels, however. Compared to the first half of 2020, there have been 56% more other crimes against persons, 52% more drug and alcohol crimes, 38% more aggravated assaults, 23% more all other crimes, 22% more public disorder crimes, 21% more larcenies, 20% more white collar crimes, 18% more arsons, and 12% more robberies.  

In 2024, some crimes have risen while others have fallen. 

Figure 3

In the first half of 2025, there were more crimes against persons with an increase of 25%, other crimes (14%), larcenies (8%), white collar crimes (7%), public disorderly crimes (1%), and aggravated assaults (1%) than there were in 2024, while there were fewer drug and alcohol crimes (-2%), burglaries (-7%), thefts from motor vehicles (-14%), robberies (18%), auto thefts (-36%), and murders (-44%).

District 1 Crime

In District 1 (northwest Denver),, including the Highlands and Sloan’s Lake, crime development has looked similar to Denver’s as a whole, with falling numbers of auto theft and thefts from motor vehicles. 

Figure 4

Compared to 2020, crimes in District 1 have grown in every category except thefts from motor vehicles, which is down 14%, burglary (-17%), and murder (-75%). 

Compared to 2022, crimes in the first half of 2025 were up for drugs and alcohol crimes (63%), arson (62%), other crimes against persons (40%), all other crimes (18%), and white collar crimes (13%). Meanwhile, the number of larcenies fell by 2%, along with aggravated assault (-5%), public disorder (-7%), burglary (-12%), robbery (-18%), thefts from motor vehicles (-48%), auto theft (-55%), and murder (-71%). 

Figure 5

Compared to 2024, crimes in the first half of 2025 were up for arson, which grew by (31%), along with white collar crime (24%), public disorder (10%), all other crimes (8%), and larceny (7%). Meanwhile, drugs and alcohol crimes have fallen by 1%, along with other crimes against persons (-4%), theft from motor vehicle (-16%), burglary (-17%), robbery (-19%), aggravated assault (-19%), auto theft (-25%), and murder (-50%). 

District 2 Crime

District 2, which covers Five Points and City Park, has experienced a similar pattern. Motor vehicle-related crimes and murders are down consistently, but most other crime categories are rising.

Figure 6

Compared to the first half of 2020, crimes in 2025 have risen in all crime categories except auto theft, arson, and murder. This includes a 110% increase in drug and alcohol crimes, a 50% increase in public disorder, and a 32% increase in aggravated assault. 

Compared to the first half of 2022, crimes in 2025 have risen in more categories than they have fallen. This includes an increase in drug and alcohol crimes (179%), other crimes against persons (91%), white collar crime (45%), all other crimes (37%), arson (11%), robbery (9%), larceny (8%), and burglary (3%). Meanwhile, the number of public disorder crimes has fallen 3%, along with aggravated assault (-6%), murder (-29%), theft from motor vehicle (-42%), and auto theft (-65%). 

Figure 7

Compared to the first half of 2024, crime rose in more categories than it fell in 2025. These include the number of arsons rising by 67%, along with white collar crime (33%), larceny (29%), drug and alcohol crimes (27%), other crimes against persons (18%), public disorder (6%) and robbery (3%). Meanwhile, the number of aggravated assaults has fallen 5%, along with thefts from motor vehicles (-7%), murder (-29%), and auto thefts (-30%).

District 3 Crime

In District 3, crime has been improving more consistently across more categories. 

Figure 8

Compared to the first half of 2020, crimes in 2025 have risen in all but four categories. Burglaries are down 8%, thefts from motor vehicle down 30%, auto thefts down 34%, and murders down 50%. Meanwhile, aggravated assaults are up 74% and robberies up 10%. 

Compared to the first half of 2022, crimes in the first half of 2025 fell in more categories than they have risen. All other crimes rose by 110% along with drug and alcohol crimes (70%), other crimes against persons (27%), larceny (22%), and white collar crime (4%). Violent crimes and car-related crimes all have fallen. 

Compared to the first half of 2024, crime has improved. Only three crime categories have increased. All other crimes rose by 28%, larceny 9%, and white collar crime 3%. All other crime decreased, including drug and alcohol crimes (-2%), aggravated assault (-3%), theft from motor vehicle (-20%), robbery (-32%), auto theft (-45%), and murder (-67%).

Figure 9

District 4 Crime

District 4, southwest Denver, has seen a consistent rise in the number of arsons, drug and alcohol crimes, white collar crimes, other crimes against persons. It had a consistent decrease in auto theft, burglary, robbery, aggravated assault, murder, and larceny. 

Figure 10

Compared to the first half of 2020, crime in the first half of 2025 has risen in more categories than they have fallen. Other crimes against persons rose by 50%, drug and alcohol crimes by 43%, aggravated assault by 38%, white collar crime by 24%, arson by 21%, public disorder by 10%, and all other crimes by 9%. Meanwhile, the number of burglaries has fallen 10%, along with auto theft (-11%), larceny (-16%), theft from motor vehicle (-23%), robbery (-27%), and murder (-63%). 

Figure 11

Compared to the first half of 2022, crimes have fallen in more categories than they have risen. Drug and alcohol crimes have risen by 97% and white collar crimes by 59%, while murder fell by 57%, auto theft by 49%. 

Compared to the first half of 2024, crimes in 2025 have risen in as many categories as they have fallen. The number of arsons rose by 89%, along with drug and alcohol crimes (50%), white collar crimes (45%), other crimes against persons (26%), and aggravated assaults (16%). Meanwhile, the number of all other crimes has fallen by 1%, along with thefts from a motor vehicle (-4%), larceny (-5%), burglary (-21%), robbery (-24%), auto theft (-33%), and murder (-63%).

District 5 Crime

District 5, northeast Denver including Elyria-Swansea, has experienced the most consistent increase in crimes across all categories since 2020, though it is experiencing a recovery for violent crimes and auto theft. 

Figure 12

Compared to the first half of 2020, crimes have increased in every category except two: burglary is down 8% and murder down 100%. 

Compared to the first half of 2022, crime fell in all categories but five: other crimes against persons rose 82%, drug and alcohol crimes by 71%, larceny by 35%, white collar crime by 31%, and all other crimes by 28%. 

Compared to the first half of 2024, crime in 2025 fell in all categories but five: arson rose by 50%, other crimes against persons by 49%, drug and alcohol crimes by 26%, and all other crimes by 3%.

Figure 13

District 6 Crime

District 6 covers downtown Denver, including the central business district, Civic Center Park, LoDo, part of RiNo, Coors Field, and 16th Street. Aggravated assaults have consistently risen, and murders have risen in 2025. There were seven through the first half of the year, two of which occurred in a high-profile random stabbing attack in January.

Figure 14

District 6 has seen the highest murder increase since 2020. Compared to the first half of 2020, there were 133% more murders in 2025. Aggravated assaults are up 35%, auto theft up 35%, drug and alcohol crimes up 67%, robbery up 19%, and theft from motor vehicle up 6%. Public disorder crimes have decreased by 1%, along with all other crimes (-2%), white collar crimes (-3%), larceny (-15%), arson (-28%), and burglary (-37%). 

Figure 15

Compared to the first half of 2022, crimes have been improving. They have decreased in all but four categories. All other crimes have risen 73%, other crimes against persons 36%, aggravated assault 16%, and drug and alcohol crimes 9%. 

District 6 crime has worsened since 2024. Compared to the first half of 2024, crime rose in more categories than it fell in 2025. Murder rose 40%, arson 38%, public disorder 33%, larceny 27%, aggravated assault 24%, burglary 22%, other crimes against persons 21%, theft from motor vehicle 16%, and all other crimes 8%. Robbery fell by 5%, white collar crime by 14%, drug and alcohol crimes by 21%, and auto theft by 23%. 

District 7 Crime

District 7 is the police district assigned to the Denver International Airport. 

Figure 16

Compared to the first half of 2020, crimes have risen more than fallen in 2025. Aggravated assaults rose by 700%. This is an outsized number, as the number of aggravated assaults rose from one to seven. Public disorder rose by 237%, all other crimes 213%, other crimes against persons 213%, larceny 166%, theft from motor vehicle 110%, and auto theft 43%. 

Compared to the first half of 2022, crime in 2025 rose in four categories. All other crimes rose by 185%, other crimes against persons by 19%, aggravated assault by 14%, and public disorder by 9%. The number of larcenies fell 19%, along with white collar crime (-19%), drug and alcohol crimes (-47%), thefts from motor vehicle (-69%), auto theft (-71%), arson (-100%), and burglary (-100%). 

Figure 17

Compared to the first half of 2024, crime fell in more categories than it rose. Drug and alcohol crimes rose by 100%, all other crimes by 35%, and aggravated assault by 33%. The number of other crimes against persons fell by 22%, along with larceny (-39%), public disorder (-45%), robbery (-50%), white collar crime (-60%), theft from motor vehicle (-73%), auto theft (-73%), and burglary (-100%).

Violent Crime by District

CSI also analyzed the number of violent crime victims by police district. This is a crucial metric, as the number of victims estimates true crime impacts more accurately. A single crime incident may have a multitude of victims. Denver’s violent crime victims (murder, aggravated assault, and robbery) are concentrated more heavily in certain districts.

In the first half of any given year, District 6 has the city’s highest share of violent crime victims. On average, District 6 accounts for 23% of the violent crime victims in the first half of the year. In both 2020 and 2025, it accounted for one-quarter (25%) of the city’s violent crime victims. 

District 6 is alone in the consistency of its violent crime share from year to year. None of the remaining districts are a consistent runner-up for share of victims. Except for District 7, each fluctuates between 13% and 18% of the city’s violent crime victims in any year. 

Figure 18

Bottom Line

Denver has made strides to correct some of the crime issues that began in the early 2020s, particularly in reducing auto theft and murder. However, violent crime in some districts is worsening, particularly downtown. To put Denver’s economic interests forward, city leaders should embrace targeted approaches that do not simply reduce violence in the city as a whole but in the areas most in need of economic revitalization.