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Reported crime in Palm Springs fell in 2025, with decreases across theft, burglary and violent offenses

Police attributed the decline to proactive enforcement and community cooperation, while noting that larceny-theft remained the most common crime despite a 14% drop from the previous year.

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Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills speaks at the launch of an initiative to crack down on speeding and reckless driving in 2024. (File photo)

Reported crime in Palm Springs declined modestly in 2025, with decreases across several major categories including theft, burglary and violent crime, according to final numbers submitted to a crime database by the Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD).

Across eight major categories, PSPD reported 2,877 total offenses in 2025, down from 3,132 offenses in 2024, reflecting an overall decline of about 8%, based on year-end figures provided by the department.

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Property crimes continued to account for the majority of reported offenses in both years. Larceny-theft — the unlawful taking of another person’s property — remained the most common crime, though incidents fell from 1,117 in 2024 to 962 in 2025, a decrease of roughly 14%. Motor vehicle thefts also declined, from 227 incidents in 2024 to 190 in 2025.

Burglary — the unlawful entry into a structure — showed a smaller reduction, with 175 incidents reported in 2025, compared with 181 the year before, while arson remained a low-volume category, falling from 10 incidents in 2024 to seven in 2025.

Violent crime totals also edged lower. Robberies declined from 69 incidents in 2024 to 50 in 2025. Assaults — which include aggravated assault under FBI reporting definitions — decreased slightly, from 754 incidents in 2024 to 724 in 2025.

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Palm Springs recorded three homicides in 2025, down from seven in 2024, which included vehicular homicides, keeping the city’s homicide count at a relatively low level.

Sex crimes also declined, with 46 incidents reported in 2025, compared with 67 the year before, according to the finalized data.

Palm Springs police highlighted the year-over-year reductions in a statement shared on social media, describing the results as evidence the city is “moving in the right direction.”

“When we compared 2024 to 2025, we saw meaningful reductions across most major crime categories,” the department said.

Police also reported an increase in arrests during 2025, which the department attributed to proactive enforcement efforts focused on drug-related offenses, driving under the influence and quality-of-life violations.

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“These improvements don’t happen by accident,” police said, crediting community cooperation, tips from residents and early identification of crime trends by officers. “Your partnership with your officers all play a major role in these results.”

Crime statistics reflect offenses reported to police and do not capture all calls for service or minor violations. Public safety experts note that year-to-year fluctuations are common, but sustained reductions across multiple categories can indicate improved prevention and enforcement strategies.


Author

Mark is the founder and publisher of The Post. He first moved to the Coachella Valley in 1994 and is currently a Palm Springs resident. After a long career in newspapers (including The Desert Sun) and major news websites such as ESPN.com and MSN.com, he started The Post in 2021.

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