TOPEKA – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has released the 2024 Kansas Crime Index Report. The report compiles crime statistics reported to the KBI by state and local law enforcement agencies throughout Kansas. The report shows a decrease on Kansas crimes reported in 2024 compared to 2023. Crimes were also down in Barton County.
Pawnee County saw a decrease of criminal offenses overall but the number of violent crime offenses rose from 12 in 2023 to 16 in 2024. The 2023 number is 2.0 per 1,000 people and in 2024 it was 2.6 per 1,000 people.
Likewise, Stafford County saw a decrease of criminal offenses overall but the number of violent crimes rose from 3 in 2023 to 4 in 2024. The 2023 number was 1.0 per thousand people and in 2024 it was 1.3 per 1,000 people.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines index crimes as murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault/battery, burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. In 2024, there were 58,161 property crimes and 12,643 violent crimes submitted by Kansas law enforcement agencies to the KBI. Total index crimes decreased 16.7% from the 10-year average. The total index crimes were heavily impacted by the total property index crimes due to the number of property crimes reported compared to violent crimes.
Violent crime analysis
The 2024 Kansas Crime Index Report indicated that violent crime in Kansas decreased by 6.7% from 2023. A total of 12,643 crimes were reported for the offenses of murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault and battery. With this decline, violent crime in the state was equal to the 10-year average.
Property crime analysis
In 2024, overall property crimes decreased 12.9% from 2023. In 2024, there were 43,636 theft offenses, which accounted for 75.0% of total property crimes reported. There were 14,525 burglary and motor vehicle thefts, representing the remaining 25% of property crimes. Property crimes nationwide are assumed to be under-reported to law enforcement.
Barton County
• Barton County reported 337 Crime Index offenses in 2024, a 17.6% decrease from 409 offenses in 2023. The breakdown for reports is:
- 66 Barton County Sheriff’s Office
- 8 Ellinwood Police Department
- 250 Great Bend Police Department
- 13 Hoisington Police Department
- 0 Claflin Police Department
The Ellinwood PD numbers were only provided for 11 months; the others were for 12. Combined, these represent 13.5 crimes for 1,000 population, compared to 16.4 per 1,000 in 2023.
• There were 70 violent crimes (2.8 per 1,000 people) reported in Barton County, compared to 90 in 2023 (3.6 per 1,000). This represents a 22% reduction.
- 1 murder - reported by GBPD
- 12 rapes - 10 reported by GBPD and 2 by BCSO
- 2 robberies - 1 reported by GBPD and 1 by BCSO
- 55 aggravated assault/battery cases - 34 reported by GBPD, 20 by BCSO and 1 by Hoisington PD
• There were 267 property crime offenses (10.7 per 1,000) reported in Barton County compared to 319 in 2023 (12.8 per 1,000):
- 51 burglaries
- 198 thefts
- 18 motor vehicle thefts
The breakdown for property crimes:
43 reported by BCSO
8 by Ellinwood PD
204 by GBPD
12 by Hoisington PD
0 by the Claflin PD
Arsons are listed separately. There were 5 reported cases in 2024, compared to 3 in 2023 all reported by the GBPD.
In 2023, Barton County reported 409 crime index offenses, 90 violent crime offenses, 319 property crime offenses and 3 arson cases.
Pawnee County
Pawnee County reported 59 Crime Index Offenses in 2024, for a total of 59 (9.6 per 1,000).
That compares to 68 in 2023 (11.1 per thousand), and represents a 13.2% decrease).
The breakdown was
8 Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office reports
51 Larned PD reports
The 16 violent crime offenses countywide included:
1 murder
3 rapes
0 robberies
12 aggravated assault/battery cases
The PCSO reported 4 property crime offenses and the Larned PD reported 39, for a total of 43. There were no arson cases.
In 2023 there were 12 violent crime offenses, 56 property crime offenses and 0 arson cases.
Stafford County
Stafford County reports 17 Crime Index Offenses is 2024 (5.7 per 1,000), a 29.16% decrease fro the 24 offenses (7.9 per 1,000) reported in 2023.
The breakdown was
14 for the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (11 months reported)
2 for the St. John PD (12 months reported)
1 for the Macksville PD (10 months reported)
The Stafford PD did not report data in 2024.
The 4 violent crime offenses countywide were all aggravated assault/batteries reported by the sheriff’s office.
There were 13 property crime offenses reported
10 by the SCSO
2 by the St. John PD
1 by the Macksville PD
0 arson cases were reported.
In 2023, there were 3 violent crime offenses and 21 property crimes.
Find the full 2024 Kansas Crime Index report, and previous year’s statistics online at: KBI - Kansas Bureau of Investigation - Statistics - Crime Statistics.
