News Flash

March 26, 2021 - Both violent crimes and property crimes in Hampton decreased in 2020 compared with 2019, according to data the police shared at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Total serious crimes decreased 14.22%, said Assistant Chief Kenneth Ferguson, who will step in as interim police chief when Terry Sult retires on April 1. That gives Hampton the second-lowest crime rate – adjusted for population – among the seven largest cities in Hampton Roads.

Those numbers might not sound correct to citizens who are concerned about crimes recently, and that could be because some types of crime did increase. There were eight more murders or non-negligent manslaughters last year, for a total of 23. And motor vehicle thefts increased by 24%. 

Want to see a decrease? Don’t leave your keys in your car or your car running, even for a short time. That accounts for 90% of car thefts, said Ferguson. He also reminded residents to always lock their cars and not leave valuables or weapons inside. The number of robberies, larcenies, and burglaries in Hampton were all down last year.

Statistics show that most of the people committing crimes with guns (murders, robberies, and aggravated assaults) are young adults. And most of their victims are in the same age group. About two-thirds are 18-38, with about a quarter of those being 18-24.

Hampton Police are creating two community response teams to focus on guns, gangs, and drugs. And residents can expect increased traffic enforcement and community engagement in areas that have experienced gun violence.

Ferguson encourages the community to help in the effort by being active in their neighborhoods, sharing information with police, volunteering with organizations that work with youth and young adults, and formally or informally mentoring young people.