According to data from the Dallas’ crime analytics dashboard, as of July 21, 114 kidnappings or abductions had been reported this year compared to the 99 that had been logged last year, marking a 15.2 percent citywide increase.
Districts 6 and 7 have clocked the highest number of abductions, 17 and 16, respectively. District 6 is known for being ground zero in Dallas when it comes to the illicit sex trade. Of the 17 victims, 15 were kidnapped, and 16 of the 17 were either hispanic or black. Their ages ranged from 17 to 58 years old. Of the 17 abduction cases, nine were considered family violence crimes.
Kidnapping is when someone has been taken against their will through forcible means, by threats against him or her, or taken in some way of deceit. There is often an intent by the perpetrator that harm or injury may occur, but the person may expect a lengthy detainment. Kidnapping is usually accompanied by a ransom demand for money or other gains.
Abductions, meanwhile, are when a person has been taken away from his or her original location by persuading him or her, by some act of fraud, or in a forceful way that may include violence.
In District 7, this trend continued, with 13 of the 16 victims in the district being either black or Hispanic. The victims ranged from six to 47 years old and were predominantly female, with only two being male. Only five out of the 16 cases were not considered family violence crimes.
According to the Dallas Express, both districts have beaten their kidnapping-abduction rates year over year, with District 6 seeing a 6.3 percent increase and District 7 a staggering 300 percent hike this year to date (there were only four during the same period in 2023).
The Dallas Police Department has aimed at reducing violent crime rates in the city, but they have a significant staffing shortage of around 1,000.
DPD has also received far less taxpayer money than the police agencies of other high-crime cities, with city leaders approving a budget of just $654 million this fiscal year.
