Early 2025 data shows crime dropping in Seattle
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Crime is dropping in Seattle and across King County, according to recent data from police and prosecutors, signaling a potential shift after years of pandemic-era surges in violence and theft.
Why it matters: After lagging behind national crime declines, the region may finally be seeing a broader return to pre-pandemic norms.
By the numbers: As of April 25 this year, the Seattle Police Department had recorded 11,331 property crimes and violent offenses, including rape, robbery and homicide, according to the department's crime dashboard.
- If that pace continues, the city is on track to see about 22% fewer such crimes in 2025 compared with the 45,884 reported in 2024, per the dashboard.
- Violent crime alone — with 1,374 incidents recorded through April 25 — is about 20% lower than the 2024 pace when 5,394 violent crimes were reported.
- Vehicle theft is down about 32% so far this year compared with that span in 2024, per police data.
Flashback: Washington ranked third in the nation for vehicle thefts in 2022, with 46,939 cars stolen, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Zoom out: Seattle's trends mirror a broader pattern across King County, where overall felony referrals — ranging from burglary to serious assault — were down 25% in 2024 compared with 2019, Douglas Wagoner, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, said in an email.
The big picture: Last year, King County saw a notable decrease in gun violence, the first drop in six years.
- Fatal shooting victims fell 29%, nonfatal shooting victims declined 13%, and overall shots fired incidents were down 6% compared with 2023, said Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion.
- The prosecutor's office will release 2025 numbers this week showing that gun violence has continued a sustained decline since last year, Wagoner told Axios.
What they're saying: "We needed some good news in this world," said Wagoner. "King County had a rough go during the pandemic, and — while it's not mission accomplished — it's really wonderful to see things turning a corner."