Houston’s annual “March Against Crime” campaign focused on gun safety, auto theft as violent crime rates declined in the region.

The Houston Police Department’s 39th annual “March Against Crime” campaign will focus on reducing gun violence and auto theft as violent crime rates steadily decline in the region.

During a press conference on Wednesday, HPD chief Troy Finner said the city will strive to keep crime rates low in the region by expanding youth programs and reducing domestic violence in the Houston area.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Finner said. “When someone is the victim of a violent crime here in this city, we support them.”

Compared to the same period last year, violent crime in Houston is now down more than 22%, according to HPD. The decline is even sharper compared to 2021 – a drop of almost 27%.

Overall, Houston saw a nearly 8% drop in violent crime last year compared to 2021, according to HPD.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city’s One Safe Houston initiative, launched in February 2022, has had a positive impact on crime rates.

“Through this program and other collaborative efforts, the city of Houston has experienced a reduction in all major categories of violent crime,” Turner said. “It’s not just because of the extra cops on the street, but because of the involvement and support of the community.”

In addition, non-violent crimes such as burglary, theft and auto theft are now down over 9% compared to the same period last year. According to HPD, the number of the same crimes increased by more than 8% compared to 2021.

“Get valuables out of the car, lock the doors and work with us as we try to make things safer in our apartment complexes, garages and wherever there are lots of cars,” Finner said.

Finner also urged residents to properly secure guns when left in cars. Nearly 1,000 weapons have been stolen from vehicles in the Houston area this year, Finner said, about 200 more than at the same time last year.