Depending on the type of crime and how it’s measured, crime is both up and down in Boulder, according to the most recent data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
For instance, overall reports of property crimes are down 18% compared to 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic upended lives and contributed to a nationwide rise in crime. Reports of robbery, shoplifting and motor vehicle theft also have declined since then.
The surge in theft of car parts, such as catalytic converters, which had the Boulder Police Department giving away anti-theft kits, has reversed since 2021. Reports of car part theft had more than doubled from 2020 to 2021.
At the same time, reports of violent crime continue to rise.
This includes reports of aggravated assault, which involves causing injury with a weapon, and intimidation, defined as using threatening words or other conduct.
However, the rates of certain violent crimes, such as aggravated assault, have consistently been lower in Boulder than in Colorado as a whole, according to the state data.
This complicated crime trend comes as the Boulder Police Department has begun implementing a new long-term plan to “reimagine policing.” Unveiled late last year, the plan focuses on crime prevention and targeting hotspots where officers receive a disproportionate number of calls. Interim Police Chief Steve Redfearn is expected to provide city councilmembers with an update on the new plan during a study session on Thursday, May 23.
The crime data collected by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is based on data provided by law enforcement agencies. Much of the data for the City of Boulder dates back to 2010.
This data does not necessarily reflect the actual crime rate, as some crimes go unreported and others are investigated and later determined to be unfounded. But reported crime data over time offers useful indications of whether, how and to what degree specific crimes are fluctuating.
Separately, the City of Boulder collects data on the reports of stolen bikes, which account for the single most valuable stolen property in the city, according to officials. In 2023, the total value of the 698 reported stolen bikes was about $1.3 million, according to city data.
Reports of bike theft have been trending down in recent years.
