WILMINGTON — 2023 set a record low for violent crime in Wilmington at less than 600 reports to the Wilmington Police Department, though property crime is continuing on an upward trajectory.
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The WPD presented its annual crime report to the Wilmington City Council on Monday and Tuesday. According to its data, which may change slightly before submission to the State Bureau of Investigation, violent crime decreased 4.86%, or by 30 events, from 2022 to 2023. The decrease is part of a three-year decline in violent crimes, which includes homicide, aggravated assault, rape and robbery.
The largest decrease was in rape reports, down 39 to 40 incidents reported.
Robberies decreased by 12 incidents and aggravated assaults were down two. Murder decreased by one incident.
According to Chief Donny Williams, who presented to council, two of the homicides were considered “justified”; one was ruled self-defense and the other was an officer-involved shooting.
In August, a suspect opened fire on police officers and sheriff’s deputies, who returned fire and killed the man. William Brent Gilmore was linked to shooting into a home on Dixie Avenue, as well as striking and injuring a woman on Lake Avenue on Aug. 17. The following day he sent police on a chase after tying up and assaulting another woman in Wrightsville Beach. Law enforcement captured and shot Gillmore on Market Street.
The remaining 10 homicide cases have been resolved except for one, according to Williams.
“Our clearance rate for homicides in the city of Wilmington is 90%,” Williams told city council. “I don’t know why anyone would want to commit a homicide in this city.”
Half of the homicides had a domestic violence component, he said.
Williams attributed the decrease in violent crime, in part, with the increase of gun seizures by the department. According to data compiled by the WPD, the department seized 128 guns in 2018; that number is now 519. Williams said it was not unusual for his officers to seize three to four guns a shift.
In 2023, the department recorded 107 incidents of gunfire or assault with 167 victims, up from 97 incidents and 142 victims in 2022.
Williams said the increase in seizures is a combination of more aggressive tactics by the WPD and the “guns galore” on the streets.
In 2020, U.S. gun sales surged to the highest level in a decade, with nearly 9 million more sales than the previous year; it was the largest annual rise in two decades. Since then, the numbers have decreased but remain high; in 2018, an analysis revealed there are more guns than people in the country.
Williams said many guns are being acquired via car theft.
“You will be amazed at how many people leave firearms inside of their vehicles,” Williams said. “It is just mind-boggling to me.”
In his rundown of property crime, Williams said car theft and merchant larceny are driving the increase in property crime, which saw a 21.4% increase to 4,794 incidents. Larceny increased by 709 incidents, up 26%, while motor vehicle theft increased by 74 reports, a 28% increase.
Williams said mask-wearing in recent years has made it harder to identify suspects, but also that many people do not lock their cars or take precious items inside.
Citations for property crime increased 83%, though Williams said his department did not increase positions, so current officers are taking on a higher workload in response to property crime.
City council member Charlie Rivenbark asked if the city’s increase in homeless individuals has contributed to the rise in property crime. Williams said it could account for a portion but placed a lot of the blame on juveniles.
Williams elaborated that the rise in property crime is occurring in New Hanover County as a whole, as well as other townships across the state.
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