Crime numbers fall in Salem, but some rates rise

Violent crime dropped by about 20 % compared with the previous year, and murders fell by more than half.
All four killings were solved – a clearance rate higher than the national average of 61 %.

Property Crime

• Vehicle theft and shoplifting each declined by roughly 16 %.
• These trends mirror the national pattern of lower crime figures.

Historical Context

The report reviews data from 2011 onward, comparing recent statistics with:

• Three‑year average (2022‑2024): All major crime types fell by over a quarter.
• Fifteen‑year average (2009‑2023):
• Violent crime remained 11 % above the long‑term mean.
• Property crime was nearly a third lower.

Homicide Trends

• In 2025, homicides were 28 % below the fifteen‑year average.
• Population changes mean raw counts can be misleading: Salem had far fewer residents in 2011, when homicides were only three.

Rates vs. Totals

• Violent crime rate: 4 % above the fifteen‑year average.
• Property crime rate: dropped by more than a third.

These figures suggest that while fewer crimes were reported overall, the likelihood of violent crime per person has edged up slightly.