Crime is on track to drop in Arlington this year, reversing a trend of increasing criminal incidents over the past several years.
Total reported offenses are down about 4% compared to this time in 2024, according to preliminary numbers in the Arlington County Police Department’s crime data hub.
An 18% drop in property crimes is driving most of the year-over-year decrease. Meanwhile, some other forms of crime have been rising.
The crime dashboard records a total of 12,939 offenses so far in 2025, a decline from 13,542 at the same point in 2024 but still about 8% higher than 11,966 in 2023.
Property crimes are at their lowest level since 2022, having decreased from 8,414 at this point in 2024 to 7,132 this year. Only four carjackings have been reported this year, compared to eight at this time last year and 24 in 2023.
However, other kinds of offenses have continued to increase in prevalence.
Crimes against people — including assaults and other violent crime — are up about 4% compared to last year, and up 22% since 2022. “Group B/Other” offenses, which include relatively minor crimes such as disorderly conduct and trespassing, increased by 24% compared to last year.
More serious “Group A” offenses increased by 45% between 2020 and 2024, raising alarm bells among ACPD’s rank and file.
Rising crime rates played a role in recent labor negotiations with the Arlington Coalition of Police, which culminated in hefty salary increases announced last month. Starting July 1, 2026, the starting salary at ACPD will jump by about $18,000 to $90,000, the highest in the D.C. area.
The agency has also been expanding hiring efforts with new digital advertising and outreach this year, after struggling to boost its staffing for several years.
The numbers in ACPD’s crime data hub are subject to change based on the outcome of court cases. An official breakdown of data from 2025 will be included in the agency’s annual report, which is expected to come out in mid-2026.
