Colorado Springs sees key crime rates decline
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Colorado Springs is seeing a substantial drop in killings and one of the largest declines in the nation for motor vehicle thefts, a mid-year crime report shows.
Why it matters: The analysis from the Council on Criminal Justice credits new technologies, like automated plate readers, for allowing law enforcement to react more quickly to high-profile crimes.
By the numbers: Homicides are down 53% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, and 19% lower than the first six months of 2019.
- Motor vehicle thefts declined 50%, the second-largest decrease among roughly 30 major cities in the study, and tied for the largest decline at 57% compared to 2019.
What they're saying: Derek Wilson at the Colorado Springs Police Department touted the agency's multi-faceted approach that includes technology, its real-time crime center and strategic deployment that targets "prolific offenders."
- "While we're encouraged by the trend, we also recognize that crime patterns are influenced by many factors," he said in a statement to Axios.
The intrigue: By comparison, Denver is experiencing a 6% increase in homicides in the first half of 2026, compared to the same period a year ago. It's one of eight cities out of 30 studied that experienced an increase.
- Motor vehicle thefts in Denver are 25% lower so far this year.
The big picture: Nationally, the council estimates the number of killings will hit its lowest level since 1900, well below its prepandemic rate.
- The researchers say the numbers are influenced by a range of factors, including new strategies, technological advances and broader shifts in society.