Crime rates have fallen significantly across Northwest Philadelphia in 2024, according to data from the police department, with total violent crime in the 14th Police District declining by 3.36% compared to 2023.

The 14th district, which encompasses Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and parts of Germantown, has seen particularly sharp decreases in its most serious violent crimes. There were 10 homicides, which is a 44.44% drop from the previous year, and 104 shooting incidents, which are down 22.39%. 

The total number of reported property crimes decreased by 7.29%. The 941 cars reported stolen is a 35% drop from the previous year. Commercial and residential burglary also declined – with reports of 52 and 174 incidents representing a 24% and 15% respective drop. 

14th District Captain Stuart McCoullum told the Local that he attributes the drop in these crimes to community engagement and data-based response.

“We instituted a robust community engagement improvement plan centered on proactively conducting community outreach through in-person meetings, the distribution of our crime prevention material through credible messengers, and email and online media platforms,” he told the Local. “Through our community efforts, we were able to obtain information and make it actionable in a timely manner.”

These trends mirror citywide patterns, where total violent crime has decreased by over 7%. Philadelphia has seen homicides drop by almost 40% while shooting victims and incidents have declined by nearly 30% and 36% respectively. Like the 14th district, the city has experienced an increase in non-gun aggravated assaults, rising by approximately 10%.

Still, the district witnessed several high-profile incidents that have raised community concerns about public safety.

The community mourned the loss of Elizabeth "Liz" Bradley-Shea, 57, in April. Bradley-Shea, owner of Lucky Dogz Doggie Day Care, was found stabbed to death in her Wyndmoor home. Her estranged husband, Kenneth Shea, 37, was charged with first-, second-, and third-degree murder and remains in custody at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility awaiting trial.

In July, A woman and her 11-year-old child were victims of an armed carjacking on the 200 block of East Meade Street as they returned from a concert at the Wells Fargo Center. While neither victim was physically harmed, police never found or arrested the perpetrator, and the incident remains under investigation. 

That same month, a tragic pre-dawn crash at Stenton and Evergreen Avenues claimed the life of a 15-year-old and injured multiple others. The incident, which occurred at 4:51 a.m., involved a stolen 2020 Hyundai Elantra that ran a red light and struck a 2014 Infiniti QX80. 

Some problems got worse

Certain categories of crime have shown concerning increases. Aggravated assaults without a gun rose by 22% in the 14th district compared to last year, though gun-related aggravated assaults decreased by about 14%. (how does this compare to city numbers?)

Additionally, 120 people who live in the 14th district had their motor vehicle tags stolen. That’s an increase of more than 30%, which is significantly higher than the citywide increase of 6%.

Retail theft has emerged as a growing concern, increasing by 31% in the district compared to a citywide increase of 22%. The issue has particularly affected businesses along Germantown Avenue, with Wawa and ACME experiencing frequent shoplifting incidents.

Newly elected Mayor Cherelle Parker, whose winning campaign focused on improving law enforcement and restoring order, has taken steps to address these challenges. Following her October visit to the Mt. Airy Business Improvement District's (BID) annual meeting, where she emphasized the need for increased commercial corridor patrols, changes were implemented quickly.

"Since our annual meeting that Mayor Parker attended, we've had foot patrol officers assigned to the commercial corridor," said Janis Risch, executive director of Mt. Airy BID. "My understanding is they've been making several arrests related to retail theft in the shops that are the most frequent targets for shoplifting."

Courtney O'Neill, executive director of the Chestnut Hill Business District, suggests the increase in reported retail theft might partially reflect improved reporting practices. 

"We have been encouraging retail owners to make an official report if they witness shoplifting or discover theft," O'Neill explained. "So it might not be that there is an increase in shoplifting, that might be the same or decreased from past years but what could be different is the number of people calling in to report the crime."

McCoullum agrees, and said his department is committed to shoplifting crime “trending downward.”

“This is a direct result of an increase in retail theft reporting by store owners and significant increases in arrests of prolific offenders,” he said, adding that the public gets a say in how, and where, officers are assigned.

“Our job is to serve the public, so we must continuously partner with the community on initiatives to create a safer, cleaner, greener, environment with economic opportunity,” he said. “Policing is much more than law enforcement, it is service provision.”