Leesburg police present 2024 report showing rises in retail theft, burglaries and alcohol-related incidents

Leesburg Police Chief presented the department’s 2024 annual report to the Leesburg Town Council at its July 21 work session, saying some crime categories rose compared with a three‑year (2021–2023) average while others fell.

The report showed several headline changes: burglary was up 56.2 percent; disorderly drunkenness increased by 341 percent; reported “abductions” were down about 38.6 percent; and certain cyber‑related or digitally enabled property crimes rose substantially (an increase described in the presentation as roughly 69 percent in one cyber category). The chief said the 2024 numbers were measured against the average of 2021–23 so the council could “get a real analysis of what’s going on.”

Why it matters: council members pressed the department for detail because the trends affect downtown safety, trail use and the town’s partnerships with businesses and prosecutors. Police briefed the council on enforcement steps and investigative cooperation with local, state and federal partners.

The ch…