Businesses and organizations across the country are keeping a close eye this year on crime trends that may have an impact on their operations, on employee safety, and on their crime risk management strategies. The latest insights from the Pinkerton Crime Index (PCI), our AI and frontier data science tool that is used for accurate crime risk forecasting, provide a better look at crime patterns across major U.S. metropolitan areas and offer valuable guidance for decision-makers who are looking to mitigate threats.
Property Crime Statistics 2025
One of the most interesting trends we are watching is the continued rise in property crime, which defies typical seasonal crime patterns. Historically, February tends to be a fairly low-crime month, but data from key urban counties suggest that U.S. property crime rates are not following this usual downward trajectory. In fact, the PCI data shows that 12 of the largest metro areas in the U.S. have experienced an increase in property crime year-over-year.
For example, the five boroughs of New York City saw an 18% increase in property crime compared to this time last year, while Charlotte-Mecklenburg County in North Carolina reported a 4% rise. Conversely, some areas have seen a decline, such as Las Vegas's Clark County, where property crime fell by 1%. Given that property crime typically declines in winter months, its persistence into early 2025 suggests underlying economic or social factors may be responsible for unusually persistent rates of property crime.
The Impact of Violent Crime in U.S. Metros
While property crime remains elevated, violent crime trends are showing a more complex picture. Recent PCI data shows that eight major metro counties in the United States have seen an increase in violent crime, while the majority have experienced a decrease. This deviation from the usual norm suggests that, while some cities may be making progress in reducing violent incidents, others are still wrestling with challenges that are related to assaults, robberies, and other violent offenses. The numbers show that crime trends are not always monolithic across the nation.
Despite the shift, PCI analysis found that nearly every major metro area in the U.S., when assessed at the county level, remains categorized as high risk. The only notable exception to this was the county of San Diego.
Emerging Crime Trends and Ongoing Enhancements
For business leaders, understanding the risks is important to provide enhanced security measures to protect assets and ensure employee well-being.
The Pinkerton Crime Index reports and dashboard provide organizations with accurate and timely crime data insights that can inform everything from site selection and facility security to employee travel policies and operational planning. As part of ongoing enhancements, PCI continues to integrate new data sources, refining its ability to detect and analyze emerging crime trends. While the high-level trends in violent and property crime are useful for strategic decision-making, PCI’s granular neighborhood-level insights are also helpful to businesses looking to gauge risk at individual locations.
As crime patterns evolve, the strategies organizations rely on to safeguard their people and operations must also evolve. By knowing that property crime risk now remains elevated in the colder months, business leaders can be sure to allocate resources effectively and protect their operations. Learn more about how we can help create a comprehensive security plan for your organization.
