Riley County crime drops sharply in September, but traffic accidents rise

Manhattan, Kansas — Part I crime in Riley County fell to its lowest levels in five years during September 2025, though traffic-related incidents showed troubling increases, according to a monthly report from the Riley County Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Unit.

Part I crime reported in September was 30.6 percent below the five-year average and 34.4 percent lower than September 2024, the report shows. Part I violent crime reached a five-year low for the month, with 18 incidents including 16 aggravated assaults or batteries, two rapes, no robberies and no homicides.

"These incidents are isolated and not indicative of a trend or pattern," the report states regarding the aggravated assault and battery cases. As of Oct. 8, arrests had been made in four of the 16 incidents.

The decline in overall crime reflects particular success in vehicle-related offenses. Vehicle burglaries dropped 87.8 percent below the five-year average, marking a five-year low for September. Police attribute the sharp decrease to community outreach efforts aimed at identifying suspects in a series of vehicle thefts that began in June, resulting in the apprehension of two suspects.

Property crime overall fell 41.5 percent below the five-year average in September. The month saw nine burglaries, two larcenies from motor vehicles, five auto thefts and zero arson incidents. The remaining 46 property crime incidents involved other types of larceny.

Driving under the influence arrests also declined significantly, with 11 DUI cases reported — a 40.9 percent decrease below the five-year average and representing the lowest September total in five years, according to the report.

However, traffic safety concerns emerged as a countertrend. Traffic accidents numbered 126 in September, a 9.2 percent increase over the five-year average. The report notes that traffic accidents have "slowly increased in number since June 2025" and predicts the pattern will likely continue or worsen in coming months based on current trends and historical data.

Preventable traffic accidents — those not weather or animal-related — totaled 87 in September, slightly below the five-year average at a 3.8 percent decrease. The report notes that September figures may change as data entry corrections continue.

Mental health-related calls for service also decreased in September, with 34 incidents reported — a 58.3 percent drop below the five-year average. August and September combined represent the lowest number of mental health-related calls for service in 2025, the report states.

Year-to-date totals through September show Part I crime at 820 incidents, a 1.8 percent decrease from the same period in 2024. The department projects approximately 1,126 total Part I crimes by year's end if September's trend continues.

The monthly report is based on data extracted from the police department's records management system using specific parameters. Officials note that reported numbers may differ slightly from other crime reports, such as the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program, due to variations in search parameters, data entry timing and offense classification methods.