San Francisco, October 22, 2025
News Summary
Property crime in major U.S. cities saw an overall drop of 8 percent last year, although some cities, including San Francisco and Portland, still experience high rates. Efforts for federal intervention in these areas have prompted debates on the role of the National Guard. While many local initiatives are showing positive trends in reducing crime, the national landscape remains mixed, highlighting the need for targeted public safety measures.
San Francisco — Property crime in major U.S. cities dropped by 8 percent last year. Despite the overall decline, several large cities continue to report high property crime rates, and some have become focal points of proposed federal interventions and National Guard deployments.
Topline developments
Nationwide trend: Property crime in major U.S. cities dropped by 8 percent last year. This decline is reported alongside mixed results across individual cities, where some jurisdictions saw substantial decreases and others remain among the highest for property offenses.
Federal attention and state responses: Some cities with persistently high property crime rates have drawn public and federal scrutiny, prompting proposals for federal intervention. The Trump administration has attempted to deploy National Guard members to selected cities, while state and local leaders have at times opposed those moves or disputed the characterizations of local conditions. An appeals court allowed National Guard deployment in Portland after a federal judge had blocked the move. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supports Trump’s deployment of National Guard members, stressing they would not be used in enforcement roles but for public safety. The Trump administration attempted to send National Guard members to Portland, describing the city as under siege, but Oregon’s Governor Tina Kotek disputed such claims.
Cities with notably high property crime rates
San Francisco remains among the highest for property crime. In San Francisco, there were 6,899 property crimes per 100,000 people, including 5,616 burglaries, significantly more than any other major city. San Francisco has become a primary focus of the administration’s calls for intervention.
Portland, Oregon and San Francisco show relatively low violent crime rates on the West Coast, but substantially higher property crime rankings; the two cities rank Nos. 2 and 13, respectively, in property crime. Portland recorded 5,526 property crimes per 100,000 people in 2024, including 4,532 burglaries, with a reported 17 percent drop in crime year-over-year.
Seattle ranks third in property crime nationally with 5,008 cases per 100,000 people reported last year.
Denver recorded 4,762 property crimes per 100,000 people, with a 13.06 percent decrease in property crime this year.
Albuquerque witnessed 4,629 property crimes per 100,000 people and ranks sixth for violent crime.
San Antonio reported 4,624 property offenses per 100,000 people in 2024, with a nearly 25 percent drop in property crime earlier this year.
Philadelphia recorded 4,548 property crimes per 100,000 people last year and a drop of more than 4 percent in property crime since last year.
Nashville is ranked eighth in violent crime and ninth in property crime, with rates 10 percent lower than last year.
Detroit reported 28,035 property offenses last year and is among the top 10 cities for both violent and property crime.
Houston saw 99,572 property crimes last year, ranking high for both property and violent crime.
Baltimore ranks 12th for property crimes and remains in the top 10 for violent offenses, recording 4,157 cases per 100,000 people.
Charlotte reported 3,705 property crimes per 100,000 people, with a 22 percent drop in robberies in 2025.
Washington D.C. recorded 25,197 property crimes, with a reported 10 percent drop since last year attributed to National Guard presence.
Memphis reported an overall crime drop, with an 18 percent decline in robberies in the first half of 2025.
Local measures and outcomes
Several cities reported crime reductions credited to enhanced policing measures, targeted enforcement, and local public safety initiatives. Denver noted a 13.06 percent decrease in property crime this year, San Antonio reported nearly a 25 percent reduction earlier this year, Charlotte reported a 22 percent drop in robberies in 2025, and Nashville saw property crime rates 10 percent lower than last year. Washington D.C. reported a 10 percent drop in property crimes since last year, with local officials attributing part of that change to the presence of National Guard personnel focused on public safety tasks.
Context and implications
The national decline of 8 percent in property crime among major U.S. cities reflects a varied picture at the municipal level. Some cities continue to report very high per-capita property crime rates, particularly on the West Coast and in several large metropolitan areas, fueling debates over federal involvement, the appropriate use of National Guard resources, and the balance between local and federal roles in public safety. Legal challenges, state pushback, and differing local strategies have shaped how and whether federal measures are implemented in individual cities.
What to watch next
- Pending and potential National Guard deployments where federal and state leaders disagree on the severity of local conditions.
- City-level crime data releases that may confirm or reverse recent downward trends reported in 2024 and early 2025.
- Policy and resource shifts at local levels aimed at reducing property and violent crimes, and subsequent impact assessments.
FAQ
What happened to property crime in major U.S. cities last year?
Property crime in major U.S. cities dropped by 8 percent last year.
What are the property crime figures for San Francisco?
In San Francisco, there were 6,899 property crimes per 100,000 people, including 5,616 burglaries, significantly more than any other major city.
What are the property crime figures for Portland?
Portland recorded 5,526 property crimes per 100,000 people in 2024, including 4,532 burglaries, with a reported 17 percent drop in crime year-over-year.
How did Tennessee’s governor respond to proposed National Guard deployment?
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supports Trump’s deployment of National Guard members, stressing they would not be used in enforcement roles but for public safety.
What occurred when the Trump administration attempted to send National Guard members to Portland?
The Trump administration attempted to send National Guard members to Portland, describing the city as under siege, but Oregon’s Governor Tina Kotek disputed such claims. An appeals court allowed the National Guard deployment in Portland after a federal judge blocked the move.
Key property crime figures by city
| City | Property crimes per 100,000 people / Raw total | Notable details |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 6,899 per 100,000 (including 5,616 burglaries) | Significantly more than any other major city |
| Portland, Oregon | 5,526 per 100,000 (including 4,532 burglaries) | Reported 17 percent drop year-over-year |
| Seattle | 5,008 per 100,000 | Ranks third nationally in property crime |
| Denver | 4,762 per 100,000 | 13.06 percent decrease in property crime this year |
| Albuquerque | 4,629 per 100,000 | Ranks sixth for violent crime |
| San Antonio | 4,624 per 100,000 | Nearly 25 percent drop earlier this year |
| Philadelphia | 4,548 per 100,000 | Drop of more than 4 percent since last year |
| Baltimore | 4,157 per 100,000 | Ranks 12th for property crimes; top 10 for violent offenses |
| Charlotte | 3,705 per 100,000 | 22 percent drop in robberies in 2025 |
| Detroit | 28,035 property offenses (raw total) | Top 10 for violent and property crime |
| Houston | 99,572 property crimes (raw total) | High for both property and violent crime |
| Washington D.C. | 25,197 property crimes (raw total) | Reported 10 percent drop since last year attributed to National Guard presence |
| Memphis | Not specified (overall drop reported) | 18 percent decline in robberies in first half of 2025 |
| Nashville | Not specified (rates 10 percent lower than last year) | Ranked eighth in violent crime and ninth in property crime |
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Additional Resources
- CW33: Here are the 15 cities with highest property crime rates
- WFAA: Dallas police officer arrested, charged with theft of property
- Dallas Observer: Dallas family facing eviction still fighting to keep their home
- Racine County Eye: Is Dallas, Texas safe? 2025 crime insights
- CoStar: Gearing up for World Cup, Dallas seeks to tackle crime in downtown area
- Wikipedia: Crime in the United States
- Google Search: Property crime rates in the US
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Crime
- Google News: Property crime
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