Wilmington PD crime statistics show rise in traffic-related deaths and theft

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department has released crime statistics for the first half of the year, which shows are decrease in violet crime and significant increase in fatalities linked to vehicles in Wilmington, particularly among vehicle crashes and pedestrian death. 

The report also shows a rise in property theft.   

“Our property crimes detectives in the detectives division are constantly busy and diligently working to try and combat that. It’s become a department-wide effort,” WPD Public Information Officer Lt. Greg Willett said.  

Thieves are even targeting businesses you might not expect.  

Hairlinz Design Group, a salon off fountain drive, recently had an 18-year-old concrete planter stolen from their doorstep.  

Hairstylist Amber Picciola said a coworker came into work one day to discover that the planter, which had been bolted down, was gone.  

“She immediately texted us and let us know ‘hey did somebody move this or what’s going on,’ and then she noticed it was literally dragged to where the car could have been,” Picciola recalled. “Out right there at the street.”  

Lt. Willett noted it’s not just retail theft they’re seeing. In some cases, thieves will also return stolen goods to businesses for cash or store credit.   

To try to help crack down on theft, Lt. Willett hosts the department’s Thieves of the Week video series on Facebook, where viewers can help identify suspects.  

“It’s been pretty successful,” Willett said. “We’ve had a lot of people view the videos and turn people in.”  

As for the victims like Hairlinz, Picciola said although she was shocked someone would steal a planter, she’s not surprised theft is on the rise in Wilmington.  

  “Not with the economy, not with everything going on. I work at another place and there’s always stuff going on there. It’s bad. It’s getting worse,” Picciola said.