Winston-Salem Crime Falls 17% Through October

Police report declines in most serious crime categories in 2026, with rapes the notable exception.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Violence

Winston-Salem Crime Falls 17% Through October

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The Winston-Salem Police Department reported that overall crime fell nearly 17% through the first 10 months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Reported rapes rose 28% over the same span, even as other serious crimes declined.

Why it matters

The drop in overall crime and homicides marks a notable shift for the city, while the rise in reported rapes highlights a category moving in the opposite direction for residents in Winston-Salem to watch. The figures give local leaders and the public a clearer picture of where safety trends are improving and where they are not.

Winston-Salem recorded 10 reported homicides through October 2026, down from 23 in the same period of 2025 and 21 in all of 2024. Police reported 73 rapes through October 31, 2026, and the totals remain preliminary as investigations continue.

The players

Winston-Salem Police Department

The municipal law enforcement agency serving Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which compiled and released the preliminary crime statistics.

The details

The Winston-Salem Police Department compiled the crime figures for the first 10 months of 2026 and compared them with the same period in 2025. Serious crime declined in every category except rape, and reported vehicle crashes involving injuries fell 55% to 810 so far this year.

2024: Winston-Salem recorded 21 reported homicides for the full year.
First 10 months of 2025: Comparison period with 23 homicides and higher overall crime totals.
Through Oct. 31, 2026: Police reported 73 rapes and 10 homicides year to date.
Monday: Police report to be presented to a city council committee.

Legal Context

The Winston-Salem figures are compiled under National Incident-Based Reporting System definitions, which standardize how offenses are counted across agencies. Nationally, violent crime fell 9.3% through the first six months of 2026, a broader trend against which the local decline in homicides and the local rise in rapes can be compared.

Residents may see the policing priorities that shape neighborhood patrols and resources as the city council reviews the department's report on Monday. The rise in reported rapes and the continued investigations may influence how the department and city allocate safety efforts in the coming months.

The takeaway

Overall safety indicators in Winston-Salem improved in 2026, but the rise in reported rapes is a category that warrants continued attention as preliminary figures are finalized. Readers can track how these numbers change as investigations conclude.