Raleigh Ensures Safety Amidst Hopscotch Festival Crowds

As the Hopscotch Festival brings thousands of people to downtown Raleigh, concerns about safety arise due to an increase in crime. In the past eight months, Raleigh Police have reported 252 drug offenses, 216 assaults, and 182 thefts in the downtown area. Assaults have increased by 16% compared to the same period last year and by 37% compared to pre-COVID levels in 2019. Drug offenses have more than doubled in the past year. To address the rise in crime, Raleigh police are considering hiring private security. No crime reports have been filed from the festival so far.