Sioux Falls reports overall drop in violent crime last year

Sioux Falls violent crime per capita dropped to the lowest level since 2019 last year, as homicides hit a low not seen since 2009.

Per capita, there were 5.88 violent crimes per 100,000 people, though property-related crimes edged up to 39.93, a high for the past decade.

“The numbers that we’re sharing today don’t happen by accident,” Mayor Paul TenHaken said in a news conference announcing the data.

“The numbers … are a result of just smart policing, smart collaboration, good partnerships in the community. There’s a lot of cities that would love to be giving this briefing.”

TenHaken also pointed out the city’s strong clearance rate for investigations, which exceeds national averages.

“We way out-kick the coverage in every single category in the city of Sioux Falls,” TenHaken said. “That’s not just because of dumb luck. … It’s good policing with good partner agencies that do really great work.”

There were two homicides last year, down from seven in 2022 and the lowest level since 2009.

“We’re really encouraged to see that number,” Police Chief Jon Thum said, adding there’s still a perception among some in the public that homicides are high, though that wasn’t the case last year.

Aggravated assaults trended up at 627 versus 560 last year, though the Police Department is working to put more nuance behind that data, such as looking at reoffenders, he said.

Domestic assaults were down at 420 in 2023, compared with 471 in 2022.

“This is not just a Police Department win,” Thum said. “This is a community win.”

Rape cases also were down at 66 last year, compared with 90 in 2022.

“It’s an encouraging number we like to see,” Thum said.

Robberies were down at 144, compared with 169 the prior year.

Stolen vehicles, though, continued their upward trend to end the year at 1,602 cases.

“We talked about it ad nauseam last year, yet we still managed to set a record high for stolen vehicles,” Thum said. “We’ll continue to repeat the message. We’ll continue to push stuff out.”

More than 80 percent of stolen vehicles were unlocked and had keys left in them, he said.

Burglaries were down at 825, compared with 858 in 2022. Thum said part of that decrease is better security in businesses selling vape-related merchandise, which had driven an increase in the prior year.

Larcenies continued an upward trend, ending the year 6,079 cases. Larceny is the theft of personal property, and increasingly it involves fraud, Thum said.

“We’re seeing more and more frauds,” he said. “We’re seeing more and more technology used to manipulate people and swindle people.”

Fraud cases totaled 904, nearly 100 more than in 2022, meaning there’s a need to have conversations with family and friends about avoiding becoming a victim, Thum said.

“I read heartbreaking reports,” he added. “If someone is asking you to send money via gift card, it’s a scam.”

Law enforcement won’t contact you asking for money either, he continued.

If anyone asks you for money, especially by phone or online, “when in doubt, don’t do it. Call somebody you trust or call us,” he said.

Drug seizures remained fairly steady for methamphetamine and marijuana but spiked up for fentanyl.

“It’s more prevalent. It’s more available. The price has plummeted, and that’s a good indicator of how much supply there is,” Thum said. “We can seize record amounts and it will still be in our community.”

Overdoses went up, though deaths were down slightly.

“That by no means should give us a sense of comfort, because there are still 16 people who aren’t here that should be,” Thum said.

One alarming statistic is in suicide cases. After increasing last year, they’re on pace to exceed that in 2024, he said.

“We have to draw light to it because we’re the ones who are the holders of these numbers,” Thum said. “We in law enforcement really can’t impact this number. We respond to it, we raise awareness … (but) let’s have open conversations about it as a community.”

You’ve been asked to lock your car. After this, you might be more likely to remember