Crime by type
Detroit Crime by Type
How Detroit's major offense categories behave, and where each one tends to concentrate.
Overview
What drives crime in Detroit
Detroit's crime totals are shaped by both property and violent offenses, and the two follow different geographies. Vacancy and disinvestment influence where break-ins and auto crime land, while the most serious violence stays concentrated in a subset of neighborhoods.
By category
Rates and odds by crime type
Estimated annual rate per 100,000 residents and your everyday odds, with risk level relative to the U.S. average.
| Offense | Per 100k/yr | Annual odds | vs. U.S. | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theft / Larceny | 4,177 | 1 in 24 | +198% | High |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 950 | 1 in 105 | +198% | High |
| Burglary | 909 | 1 in 110 | +237% | High |
| Aggravated Assault | 781 | 1 in 128 | +191% | High |
| Robbery | 161 | 1 in 622 | +118% | High |
| Rape | 79 | 1 in 1,273 | +134% | High |
| Homicide | 14 | 1 in 7,273 | +175% | High |
Drill down
What's actually reported in Detroit
The most common specific offenses behind each category, from reported incident descriptions.
Assault 23,882 reports
Theft 22,140 reports
Vandalism 7,832 reports
Burglary 4,511 reports
Retail Theft 2,859 reports
Arrest 2,809 reports
Detail
Crime types in Detroit, explained
Motor Vehicle Theft
Auto theft is a significant problem, with stripped and stolen vehicles concentrated in lower-density areas and near major corridors. Older models and vehicles left on the street are common targets.
Theft / Larceny
Theft, including stolen property from vehicles and businesses, makes up a large share of reports and is spread across commercial strips citywide.
Burglary
Break-ins are influenced by Detroit's high vacancy rate, with both occupied homes and unsecured vacant structures drawing activity in harder-hit east- and west-side pockets.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assault is among the most consequential categories and concentrates in specific neighborhoods rather than spreading evenly across the city.
Robbery
Robberies cluster around commercial corridors, gas stations, and late-night activity, with risk rising after dark.
Homicide
Detroit's homicide rate is high relative to national norms but has trended down from earlier peaks and remains tightly concentrated in a limited set of districts.