Police report: thefts mostly down, motor‑vehicle theft and crashes up; drone first‑responder flights exceed 150
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Summary
Police reported mixed crime trends for 2025 through October — declines in some theft categories but increases in motor‑vehicle thefts, burglaries and crashes — and highlighted 155 drone flights since August and an initial 6–8% staffing‑cost estimate for Bridge Park–type environments.
Dublin police presented the department’s fourth-quarter public‑safety briefing on Nov. 3, summarizing 2025 year‑to‑date trends through October, technology deployments and an initial staffing‑cost analysis for dense mixed‑use areas.
The department reported decreases in overall theft offenses and thefts from vehicles as of October, alongside increases in motor‑vehicle thefts/attempts, burglaries and crash reports compared with the same point last year. Police said about one‑third of reported motor‑vehicle thefts involved vehicles with keys left in or with the vehicles, and that recent theft activity shifted from residential locations to commercial (hotel) lots in the second half of the year. Officers emphasized prevention messaging (remove valuables and keys; use vacation‑house watch when away).
Traffic enforcement data presented showed more than 8,800 traffic stops year‑to‑date through October and about 1,800 speeding citations. The city’s speed‑warning cameras were deployed to new locations, including Bright Road, Sells Mill Drive, Glick Road and Summit View Road; staff said they will continue to evaluate camera performance in neighborhoods.
Police highlighted the drone‑as‑first‑responder program: since August the agency logged 155 flights; staff said the drone provided aerial situational awareness for a tanker‑truck accident on Oct. 1 and supported a tabletop safety exercise with Washington Township Fire Department on Oct. 14. Sergeant Clark was credited with developing the drone program and the department noted interest from other agencies in Dublin’s approach.
Staff also presented an initial "cost‑of‑safety" estimate for a dense mixed‑use area such as Bridge Park, calculating roughly 6–8% of the overall police personnel budget as a starting point for planning policing costs in intensified development environments. The department said the estimate is a template for future analysis, not a finalized policy.
The police department reported it hosted on‑site accreditation assessments Oct. 20–23 for law enforcement and the communications center and expected results in March; assessors provided positive feedback and noted Dublin’s drone program.
Councilors asked about noise‑detection technology for mixed‑use districts; staff said prior trials had limited success for mobile traffic enforcement and that the city is exploring other systems and partnerships.