Moore Square crime down 50% year-to-year in downtown Raleigh, police say

The city of Raleigh's efforts to reduce crime in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh appear to be working.

According to Raleigh police, in January, February and March, major crime was down 50% in the Moore Square district, near the bus station, when compared to the same three months in 2023.

"It has felt better on our streets," said Downtown Raleigh Alliance President and CEO Bill King. "It’s certainly felt safer.

"So, we’re happy with the progress."

When comparing the same time period, major crime is down 22% in the downtown district, according to police.

"I think we just had a lot of challenges last summer that you’re not seeing nearly the same scale of," King said. "We had significant large groups of people causing just disruption, misbehavior, certain types of crime, and we’re seeing a lot less of that."

The Raleigh Police Department considers major crime homicides, assault, shootings and robberies.

The city has been working to make the area safer for business owners, residents and visitors, including adopting a short-term contract with Capitol police to help increase patrols in the area.

Additionally, armed guards were employed to patrol Moore Square between the hours of 4 a.m. to midnight.

The changes have prompted Raleigh resident Raenah Byrd to bring her son and daughter to Moore Square.

"It just gives them opportunities to run around," Byrd said. "They didn't have this a couple years ago."

Bryd's kids running around helps tire them out, she said.

"I didn't come down here," Byrd said of the crime. "I actually had a problem when I was down here.

"There was a shooting in the bus station when I was pregnant with him, so after that I stopped coming down here. It made me feel very uncomfortable."

Byrd said the area is "more homey now" with the increased security.

City leaders credit collaborative efforts between downtown stakeholders and monthly meetings, which include the city Downtown Raleigh Alliance, police, residents and business owners.

There were several crimes before the changes.

In October, a 15-year-old was shot near Moore Square Magnet Middle School, and a person was stabbed in the middle of the afternoon near Moore Square and City Market in downtown Raleigh. Earlier, in September, a man was stabbed near the GoRaleigh bus station just across from Moore Square.

More recently, in April, one person was injured during a fight at the Moore Square bus station. Four young people and an adult were detained in connection with the incident.

Business owners and residents have told WRAL News they are nervous about drug dealing, fighting in the streets and harassment in parts of downtown. Others say they've dealt with people running through businesses and harassing employees.