The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department gave its mid-year crime report Thursday.
Overall crime is up 4% compared to this time last year. And a big part of that is property crime — burglaries for example have increased by 23%. CMPD Major Brian Foley says part of what’s contributing to that rise, is workers returning to the office, leaving homes unattended.
"The criminals who are also working recognize that, so they understand fewer people at home, 'I can take advantage of that opportunity and go and break into a house,'" Foley said.
Since the start of the year at least 500 firearms have been stolen from cars in Charlotte. Foley says some of those weapons are ending up in the hands of teens — who are either taking guns from home that are not properly locked up or from inside cars. Vehicle thefts are up 10%.
"So you got a 14 or 15-year-old kid hops in this car now not only do they have a car, they have a firearm, think about that," Foley said.
Homicides are also up 8%. And assaults with a firearm have risen more than 25% in Charlotte over a 5-year average.