A new report from the Los Angeles Police Department reveals a troubling correlation between the rise in homelessness and an uptick in crime across the downtown area. The report, which highlights data from the first quarter of 2025, shows that incidents involving theft, assault, and drug use have spiked by nearly 15% in areas with large homeless populations.
“The challenges surrounding homelessness are complex, but it’s clear that it has contributed to a higher level of crime in certain neighborhoods,” said LAPD Captain Linda Chavez. “We are committed to working with social services and city agencies to find long-term solutions to both the homelessness crisis and its impact on public safety.”
The findings have prompted renewed calls for action from both city officials and local advocacy groups. While there is widespread support for increasing affordable housing and services for the homeless, critics argue that the city’s focus on policing and criminalizing homelessness is exacerbating the issue.
