Violent crime down nearly 10% through September, with business robberies off by a third, police report shows

Reported violent crime in Dallas fell 9.77% in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same stretch of 2025, according to a police presentation prepared for the City Council's Public Safety Committee, which meets at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The monthly update on the department's Violent Crime Reduction Plan, presented by Maj. Andre Taylor, compares federal NIBRS crime counts through Sept. 30 for both years.

Where the declines are

Robbery shows the steepest drop. The report puts total robberies down 17.54%, or 269 fewer victims. Robberies of businesses fell 34.09%, a decrease of 120, and robberies of individuals fell 13.78%, a decrease of 162.

Aggravated assaults are down 6.09%, with 243 fewer victims. Assaults not tied to family violence fell 7.36% and those involving family violence fell 3.26%.

The department's year-over-year chart shows murder down 10.38%.

September on its own followed the same pattern. The slides count 414 violent crime incidents last month, down from 523 in September 2025, and 489 victims, down from 634.

Operations the department credits

The presentation lists several efforts behind the year-to-date numbers. Operation 10/90 has produced 173 arrests, and an initiative called Metro Shield accounts for 205 arrests, 97 guns and $936,000 recovered, according to the slides. They do not say over what period those totals were counted.

The department's focused deterrence program, which works with people identified as likely to be involved in violence, reports 114 active clients, 253 contacts with participants and 65 referrals to services.

Going after problem properties

The same committee agenda includes a briefing from the City Attorney's Office and the police Nuisance Abatement Unit on how Dallas deals with properties where crime keeps recurring.

Under the city code, a property can be labeled a Habitual Criminal Property when five or more qualifying crimes are documented there within 365 days. Qualifying offenses range from murder and robbery to drug, trafficking and gambling crimes, trespass and graffiti.

Once those conditions are met, the owner is presumed to have knowingly tolerated the activity, but can try to rebut that presumption at a meeting with the city by showing what crime prevention steps have been taken, such as lighting, surveillance, access control and changes in leasing and management.

A final designation brings placards near the front door, recommended operating conditions, regular inspections, monthly fees and an annual review. Owners can appeal to the Permit and License Appeal Board.

When that does not work, city attorneys can sue under the state's civil nuisance law.

The presentation says a court can order an owner to put specific security and management measures in place, and can hold an owner who does not comply in contempt, with fines of $1,000 to $10,000, 10 to 30 days in jail, limits on utilities or operating hours, revocation of the certificate of occupancy or lease terminations.

A judge can also appoint a receiver to run a vacant property or an apartment complex for up to a year. If the case reaches a final judgment finding a common nuisance, the slides say the court must close the property for a year and may award attorney's fees.

The committee meets in the City Council Chambers on the sixth floor of City Hall and by video conference. Its agenda also includes a domestic violence update and an annual report from the city's emergency management office.

Sources

dallascityhall.com

dallascityhall.com

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