Campus crime drops sharply at U of M, led by 84% drop in auto thefts
University of Memphis campus on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
When Daniel Bell first arrived on the University of Memphis campus in 2023, he shared the same concern as many students about the city’s reputation for high crime.
Three years later, the junior criminal justice major says he has noticed a drop in crime at the university, especially in car theft, which peaked in 2023.
”I don’t really hear about it much anymore,” Bell said. “Campus security is super tight, and students are more cautious about keeping their cars from getting stolen.”
Between 2023 and 2025, the U of M reported an 84% decrease in motor vehicle thefts, according to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation data and university crime statistics.
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