INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis recorded an 8.3 percent reduction in violent crime in 2024 compared to 2023, according to annual statistics released by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department — a significant improvement from the record-high homicide totals of 2020 and 2021, though public safety advocates caution that the data reflects continuing challenges.

The city recorded 147 homicides in 2024, down from 187 in 2023 and well below the peak of 281 in 2021. Aggravated assaults and armed robberies also declined year-over-year, though both categories remain elevated compared to pre-pandemic baselines.

"We're encouraged by the trend, but we know 147 families lost someone this year," said IMPD Chief Chris Bailey at a press conference announcing the statistics. "Every one of those lives matters. We have more work to do."

Property crime, however, increased by 4.1 percent in 2024. Motor vehicle theft in particular spiked 22 percent, a trend IMPD attributes in part to a nationwide increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts exploiting a well-documented software vulnerability in older model years. IMPD has distributed more than 3,400 steering wheel locks to owners of affected vehicles through a free program at district substations.

Geographic Distribution

Violent crime remained heavily concentrated in a small number of Indianapolis ZIP codes, with five ZIP codes accounting for 61 percent of homicides. The Near Northside, Martindale-Brightwood, and the area around 38th Street and Emerson Avenue saw the highest concentrations of violent incidents.

IMPD's data-driven policing unit has increased patrol deployment and investigative resources in these areas, and the department has expanded partnerships with community violence intervention programs including Pivot, RecycleForce, and the Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition.