Italy is facing a wave of crime, especially street crime, which is pushing major cities to the top of the list of the least safe areas. Milan, Florence, and Rome top the list in Il Sole 24 Ore's 2024 Crime Index, which shows an overall increase in reported crimes (+1,7%) nationwide, reaching 2,38 million. Theft, robbery, and sexual assault are particularly concerning, with a growing incidence of minors and foreigners among the perpetrators.
The analysis, based on data from the Department of Public Safety, consolidates the post-pandemic trend. Thefts exceeded one million, accounting for 44% of all reported crimes, with a jump in residential burglaries (+4,9%). Robberies also increased (+1,8%), along with drug-related crimes (+3,9%), and, alarmingly, sexual assaults (+7,5%). Bucking the trend, cyber fraud has seen a significant decline (-6,5%), reversing its trend after years of digital-driven growth.
The geography of crime shows a clear divide between metropolitan areas and the rest of the country.
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The profile of criminals is becoming more defined. In 2024, 828.714 people were reported or arrested (+4% over 2023). Particularly alarming is the increase in minors involved: +16% compared to the previous year and +30% compared to the pre-Covid period. A telling statistic reveals that one in four arrested for public robbery is under the age of 18. The number of foreigners reported is also growing (+8,1% over 2019), representing over a third of the total, with an incidence exceeding 60% for predatory crimes such as sleight of hand and street robberies.
A complex picture, although provisional data from the Ministry of the Interior for the first six months of 2025 indicate a slight reversal of the trend, with a 4,9% drop in reports compared to the same period in 2024, offering a cautious sign of hope.
Comments (1)
This article highlights the crime situation in Italy, but I think we should also consider the causes of this increase, not just the numbers. Furthermore, safer cities are a positive example.