By Trish Svoboda

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has released its 2023 Crime Index Report. This report compiles crime statistics reported to the KBI by state and local law enforcement agencies throughout Kansas.

The Report revealed a 3.7% decrease in violent crime compared to 2022, with reductions observed across all categories of violent offenses. Kansas reported a total of 13,294 violent crimes. However, despite these improvements, violent crime in the state remained 8.6% higher than the 10-year average.

In 2023, overall property crimes in Kansas increased by 2.6%, marking the first rise since 2017. Although property crime offenses have declined in recent years, they are generally assumed to be underreported to law enforcement. The greatest property increase was motor vehicle theft, which went up 4.8% from 2022. You can find the full crime index report here.