The Lone Star State is notorious for its immense size and population. With so many people navigating different regions throughout Texas, there are many opportunities for criminal activity.
According to the 2020 Crime in Texas Report, crime has recently seen a 4% drop statewide. However, violent crime is on the rise in certain areas. Here are some of the most common crimes in Texas.
Theft
Theft is one of the most prevalent types of crime that Texans experience. Larceny offenses such as pick-pocketing and shoplifting are the most common, with 461,421 reports in 2020. Motor vehicle theft is also high, and it increased by 8.9% from 2019 to 2020. Burglary (breaking into a structure to commit a crime such as theft) is another common criminal offense in Texas. Robbery (theft through force or intimidation) is not quite as common, but it is still a large problem in many parts of the state.
Aggravated assault
While not as frequent as theft, aggravated assault is a growing concern in Texas. 2020 saw 16.4% more aggravated assault cases than 2019. Most of these cases involved dangerous weapons such as firearms and knives. It is important to note that what separates aggravated assault from simple assault is the intention to inflict serious bodily harm. Even incidents that do not involve weapons have critical consequences.
Sometimes people are more likely to be on the lookout for crimes that commonly happen in a given area. With this in mind, Texans who commit one of these crimes should consider the potential consequences and speak with an experienced attorney to start building their defense.