SeaTac crime stats show rise in property and violent crimes, higher than neighboring cities

The latest Annual Crime in Washington Report from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) reveals a concerning trend for SeaTac, which has seen an uptick in several key crime categories over the past year.

Despite overall crime rates decreasing statewide, SeaTac experienced notable increases in both property and violent crimes, distinguishing it from neighboring cities such as Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Tukwila, and Kent.

According to the 2023 report, SeaTac recorded a total of 2,728 Group A offenses*, a slight decrease of –3.1% from the previous year. However, specific categories such as motor vehicle theft saw a significant rise of +34.9%, with 85 incidents reported in 2023 compared to 63 in 2022.

Violent crimes in SeaTac also present a mixed picture. While aggravated assault cases decreased by –21.1% to 86 incidents, simple assaults remained high with 204 reported cases, an –8.9% decline from the previous year but still a substantial figure compared to the city’s population.

In comparison, Burien reported 3,884 Group A offenses, including a +200% increase in murder cases from 2 to 6, and an +18.4% rise in motor vehicle thefts. Des Moines saw 2,247 Group A offenses, with a +57.6% surge in motor vehicle thefts. Normandy Park had 249 Group A offenses, with a notable +110% increase in simple assaults. Tukwila reported a high overall crime rate with 6,400 Group A offenses, including a significant +57.6% rise in motor vehicle thefts. Kent, the largest among these cities, recorded 15,891 Group A offenses, marking a +3.5% increase, with substantial figures in destruction of property and drug violations.

CityTotal OffensesMotor Vehicle TheftsAggravated AssaultsSimple AssaultsBurglaries

SeaTac2,7288586204140

Burien3,884753138876328

Des Moines2,247210100700180

Tukwila6,4001,100150650270

Normandy Park24913212114

Kent15,8912,4793917501,259

Auburn2,100210200620180

These statistics provide a clear comparison of the crime rates across SeaTac and its neighboring cities, highlighting areas of concern and trends for each locality.

The report highlights the challenges SeaTac faces in maintaining public safety amid rising property and violent crime rates. SeaTac Police Department, like many in the region, continues to address these issues with limited resources and staffing, reflecting a broader trend across Washington state.

This is the 44th annual publication of the Washington Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program report of criminal offenses, arrests, law enforcement officers killed or assaulted, and full-time law enforcement employees. Funding for the Washington State UCR Program is provided through contract with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) and administration of the program is the responsibility of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) Criminal Justice Information Support (CJIS) Department. The Washington State UCR Program is unique in that it is sponsored, administered, and supported by an organization of contributing agency administrators rather than a bureau or department of state government.

The Crime in Washington 2023 is based on crime statistic data submitted from Washington law enforcement agencies using the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). There are important factors the reader must consider when reading or using this report as well as crime statistic reports available from the FBI or other sources:

1. The data used to compile this report are based on a “snapshot” of our repository database as of March 26, 2024. In NIBRS, there are no “fixed” statistics because law enforcement agencies update their incidents as new information becomes available.
2. The data used in this report are based on the NIBRS method of submitting crime statistics. It is more comprehensive and detailed than the prior Summary Reporting System (SRS) method, so the statistics published in NIBRS and SRS should not be compared.
3. The data displayed in this report should not be compared to the FBI Crime in The United States 2023 report which will be published later this year. The Washington State UCR Program forwards the crime data to the FBI in the NIBRS format; however, the FBI may convert NIBRS to the SRS format, use estimations, or omit agencies that have not submitted all twelve months for 2023.
4. The data displayed per agency in this report should not be used to compare to other agencies or compile “rankings” of cities and counties. There are several variables that contribute to crime in a particular jurisdiction, including the demographics, economic, and cultural make-up of the population, the local industrial and economic base, its dependence on neighboring jurisdictions, the transportation system, its economic dependence on non- residents (such as tourists, shoppers, or other day-time visitors), and its proximity to military installations, correctional facilities, universities/colleges, or state hospitals.

The full report can be viewed/downloaded here.

Reporting every crime is vital to keep these reports accurate, police add.

*A Group A offense refers to a classification used in the NIBRS for reporting crime data, and encompass a wide range of serious crimes and are divided into several categories:

1. Crimes Against Persons: Offenses such as murder, rape, aggravated assault, and kidnapping.

2. Crimes Against Property: Offenses including burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, and fraud.

3. Crimes Against Society: Offenses such as drug/narcotic violations, weapon law violations, and prostitution-related crimes.