Raleigh police increase gun confiscations, arrests in downtown Glenwood South area
Raleigh police have increased the number of confiscated guns and arrests in the Glenwood South part of downtown Raleigh compared to the same three-month timespan from a year ago, new data shows.
Specifically in Glenwood South, data released Wednesday shows police confiscated 85 firearms from July through September compared to 20 in the third quarter of last year.
The data also shows Glenwood South had 150 arrests in the third quarter of 2023. It’s an increase compared to 40 arrests in the third quarter of 2022.
“In the Glenwood South area, we have devoted additional resources as well on the weekends [when] we’re seeing most of the activity,” Police Chief Estella Patterson said. “We’ve altered the traffic patterns to prevent cruising and to prevent traffic bottlenecking, which prevents emergency vehicles from getting in if they need to get to that area.”
Patterson said police have also cracked down on motorcycle clubs and loitering in parking lots.
Patterson also stated how Raleigh police have confiscated 394 guns from July through September. It’s a 53% increase compared to the same three-month span in 2022.
Here’s a look at the third quarter crime data in Raleigh:
Homicides
- 2022 Q3: 15
- 2023 Q3: 13
Robbery from business
- 2022 Q3: 17
- 2023 Q3: 21
Robbery from person
- 2022 Q3: 88
- 2023 Q3: 93
Aggravated assault
- 2022 Q3: 270
- 2023 Q3: 319
Aggravated assault with a firearm
- 2022 Q3: 99
- 2023 Q3: 139
Motor vehicle theft
- 2022 Q3: 343
- 2023 Q3: 501
Recovered stolen vehicle
- 2022 Q3: 438
- 2023 Q3: 488
Traffic crash fatalities
- 2022 Q3: 10
- 2023 Q3: Eight
Firearms stolen from motor vehicles
- 2022 Q3: 116
- 2023 Q3: 162
The city of Raleigh has looked into hiring a private security company to assist Raleigh police on Glenwood South as they continue to test ways to curb crime in the social district.
Raleigh police are still dealing with dozens of open positions within the department, but Patterson hopes those will be filled with a new class of officers in January.
