Evanston Records Second Year With No Murders: 2025 Crime Stats

EVANSTON, IL — Crime in Evanston decreased by nearly 18 percent in 2025, according to data from the Illinois State Police.

The Illinois State Police records "Group A" offenses, which include all incidents committed within a law enforcement agency's jurisdiction. The data is divided into three categories: crimes against persons, property and society.

Crime decreased overall in Evanston this year, going from 4,186 reported incidents in 2024 to 3,420 in 2025. This averages out to a rate of 4,618 incidents per 100,000 people, according to the Illinois State Police.

Crimes Against Persons

In 2025, the total crimes against persons — which include offenses such as murder, assault, sex offenses and human trafficking — recorded in Evanston were 730. In 2024, the city recorded a total of 882 of these types of offenses.

For the second year in a row, Evanston reported zero murders within the city. The most reported personal crime reported in the city was simple assault, with 488 reported incidents.

In Cook County, the number of personal crimes reported in 2025 decreased when compared to the previous year. The total personal crimes reported in the county were 95,463 in 2025, down from 114,970 in 2024.

The trend continued in the county's largest city, Chicago, with crimes against persons decreasing from 89,712 reported incidents in 2024 to 74,601 in 2025. The murder rate in the city decreased by nearly 31 percent, according to the Illinois State Police data, going from 459 reported in 2024 to 318 this year.

The statewide trend for crimes against persons also decreased significantly in 2025, going from 202,004 in the prior year to 170,637.

Crimes Against Property

Property crimes — which include robbery, burglary, theft, vehicle theft and fraud — also decreased in Evanston in 2025. The city reported a total of 2,562 property crimes in 2025, compared to 3,138 reported in 2024, representing an 18.36 percent decrease.

The most common property crimes reported in 2025 in Evanston were larceny/theft, with 1,268 reported, and destruction of property, with 484 reported.

In Chicago, property crime decreased by 20 percent, with 130,309 incidents reported this year and 162,888 reported last year.

Cook County property crimes also decreased, going from 225,237 reported incidents in 2024 to 178,703 in 2025. Statewide, property crimes decreased in 2025, going from 375,012 in 2024 to 170,637 reported incidents.

Crimes Against Society

Crimes against society — which include drug-related offenses, pornography, prostitution, weapons law violations and animal cruelty — decreased by nearly 23 percent in Evanston. In 2025, a total of 128 incidents were reported, while 166 were reported in 2024.

Societal crimes in Cook County in 2025 decreased compared to 2024, with 22,032 incidents reported this year and 24,948 reported last year. Crimes against society also decreased in Chicago, with 15,021 incidents reported in 2025 and 17,478 incidents reported in 2024.

The trend continued statewide, with crimes against society decreasing in 2025 to 52,930 from 59,147 in 2024.