Sioux Falls Crime Rates Stable, Show Decreases in Areas

Published on September 30, 2025

Midway through 2025, crime rates are stable in Sioux Falls and show marked decreases in areas of assaults, stolen vehicles, and racing and reckless driving. This is according to crime statistics shared by Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum, who was joined by Mayor Paul TenHaken, Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar, Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead, and Minnehaha County Chief Deputy Jeff Gromer to address public safety trends during a semiannual press conference on Tuesday.

“Sioux Falls and the surrounding region are safe,” Mayor TenHaken said. “While Sioux Falls’ population has grown, including calls for service, the crime-per-capita rate remains low, and that is a testament to our incredible officers, the collaboration of public safety teams in the region, and the community’s commitment to safety. So far in 2025, we are seeing encouraging trends in our crime statistics. We will remain committed to our public safety efforts to maintain and strengthen a safe community.”

The public safety briefing is held twice per year as part of a continued effort to provide residents with statistics related to public safety. Statistics specific to the Sioux Falls Police Department show that crime numbers from January to August 31, 2025, are relatively similar to those of last year, which had the lowest crime-per-capita rate since before 2020. So far in 2025, compared to the same timeframe last year, homicides and robberies are up slightly, while aggravated and domestic assaults, stolen vehicles, rapes, burglaries, larcenies, and vandalism are all down. Total assaults, aggravated and domestic, are down 14 percent from the same time last year.

As of September 15, 2025, the total number of stolen vehicles for the year is 701, a 31 percent decrease from the 1,011 stolen vehicles reported by the same time last year. Vehicle theft has been a trend the department has followed closely as it steadily increased since 2017 and peaked in 2023, with 1,602 cars reported stolen. Last year was the first since 2017 that the department saw a decrease in the number of stolen vehicles, with a total of 1,366.

“Between targeted public messaging, our use of enhanced technology, and the public stepping up to do their part by locking their cars, we’ve made tremendous progress as a community to reverse this trend,” Thum said. “We need to continue our efforts here to ensure this number keeps falling.”

Collaborative saturation patrols, with support from state and county resources, have also shown their effectiveness in addressing speeding, reckless driving, and racing. Citations from saturation patrols in 2024 totaled 775, and so far this year, 1,413 citations have been issued, almost doubling the total from last year.

“Noise complaints from racing and exhibition driving are among the top phone calls to the City,” Thum said. “Now, we’re receiving feedback from the public that the noise issues have gone down enough that people can keep their windows open at night to sleep. The issue is by no means solved, and we will continue working with our partners to enforce speed limits.”

Completed suicide cases are at 23 so far this year, up from 19 in 2024 and just under the 27 at this time in 2023, the highest in the past 5 years.

“Our Sioux Falls Police Department and regional public safety partners do an incredible job to keep us safe, and we are a safe community, but it is not up to them alone,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken. “The whole community owns public safety. As neighbors, we look out for one another. The same goes for the topic of suicide—while not a crime, suicide is a concerning issue in our community and one we choose to spotlight during these briefings. Learn the signs and know the resources available to help. Ask your family, friends, and neighbors if they are OK. It will take us, not just our public safety leaders, to reverse this trend.”