Violent Crime on the Rise in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Despite Overall Decrease in Crime

In Prince George’s County, Maryland, overall crime is on the decline, but violent crime is on the rise, according to county police chief Malik Aziz. During a budget proposal hearing, Aziz reported that overall crime is down 13%, with nonviolent crime decreasing by 18%. However, violent crime has increased by 11%, with assaults and domestic violence being major contributors to this spike.

Aziz noted that the county has seen 29 murders so far this year, slightly ahead of last year’s pace, with a third of those murders related to domestic violence. Arrests for illegal guns have decreased, which Aziz attributed to a new law prohibiting searches of vehicles based on cannabis odor, leading to fewer weapons being found on the streets. He also mentioned a rise in 3D-printed “ghost guns” in the county, which are unserialized and harder to trace.

Property crime is down overall, but thefts from vehicles are increasing. Carjackings have also been a significant issue, with nearly 100 reported in the county this year, and juveniles accounting for a large portion of arrests related to this crime.

The trend of decreasing overall crime but increasing violent crime in Prince George’s County reflects a larger national trend. Stay updated on breaking news and headlines by signing up for email alerts from WTOP.