Opinion

Crime is falling, officials say — victims claim reporting isn’t worth it

Politicians are celebrating historic drops in property crime, but the data hides a troubling reality

By Jillian E. Snider Fox News

Published April 15, 2026 5:00am EDT

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From city halls to governors' mansions, the message is the same: crime is falling. In Detroit, Mayor Mary Sheffield celebrated a 10 percent drop in both violent and property crime and the city's fewest murders in 60 years. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass touted a 19 percent decline in homicides, while her police chief pointed to "noticeable declines in property crime." In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson hailed 2025 as "one of the most transformative years in violence reduction" in the city's history, with property crime like burglaries falling alongside shootings. The FBI's most recent national data back them up, showing declines in reported violent and property crime alike. Billions invested in public safety are supposedly paying off.

But there is a problem with the victory lap. It is built almost entirely on........

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