Henderson’s steep rise in crime is put into focus in a new Crime and Safety Impact Report by Our America. FBI’s Crime Data Explorer reported in September “FBI Crime Statistics Show A Significant Increase In Violent Crime Reports In Henderson From 2019 To 2021.” In fact, homicides reached the highest number in 2021 they had reached in at least 10 years – and aggravated assaults nearly doubled.
“Those are not the only crime statistics that should concern city residents,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in 2022. “In 2019, there were 543 reported violent crimes in Henderson. In 2020, that spiked to 682 and then hit 772 in 2021. That was the highest number in at least 10 years. Aggravated assaults nearly doubled, going from 268 in 2019 to 517 in 2021. That’s from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, which includes information supplied by the city of Henderson.”
Non-violent crime was also on the rise. Motor vehicle thefts were up and the number of robberies in Henderson soared 91% during the first seven months of 2022 compared to 2021. As the Las Vegas Journal-Review reported, “There’s a big difference between the claims Henderson officials make about public safety and what their statistics show. The Review-Journal recently obtained an email from Henderson’s Crime Analysis Unit. It revealed that the number of robberies soared by 91% during the first seven months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The incidents went from 78 to 149.”
The increase in crime was so dramatic the FBI got in touch with the city of Henderson to verify it. “The analysis is a result of the significant increase in reported robberies in 2022 compared to the same period in 2021,’ Albert Mesa, a crime and intelligence supervisor, wrote. ‘Our increase was so significant the FBI contacted the Records Sections to verify that our reporting was accurate — unfortunately, it was accurate. ‘Key findings were increases in all area commands, increases in escalated shoplifts and strong-arm robberies.’”
This is unacceptable and clearly, something needs to change. Our America National Director Gabriel Nadales released the following statement: “The Our America Crime and Safety Impact Report demonstrates what we’ve known for years. Crime has gotten significantly worse since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and not only in places like New York and Los Angeles, but also in smaller profile cities like Tucson, Arizona, Henderson, Nevada and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With this report, Our America seeks to show the public that although the headlines on crime might be dominated by larger cities, it’s happening everywhere.
“High crime rates make it considerably more difficult for people to realize the American dream. Sadly, minority communities in particular are the hardest hit by rising crime rates since they tend to disproportionately suffer from crime as it is. It’s incumbent on state and local governments to establish and uphold safe communities for families and businesses to succeed. We hope that this report and its recommended solutions can help foster safer streets and brighter futures for Americans across the country.
