Information compiled by the Albemarle Observer

Before we get to our story about crime stats, there are a few nuggets in our weekly crime report that deserve a second eye-rolling look.

First, Edenton Police responded to a report of misdemeanor larceny at Edenton Baptist Church, 200 S. Granville St., where the suspect attempted to purchase items at Walmart using stolen credit/debit cards. Stealing from a church — that’s wrong on so many different levels.

Second, when allegedly stealing a bookbag, who keeps a Dairy Queen receipt and a school tardy slip? I don’t think you can turn in that receipt for reimbursement or turn in that used tardy slip!? I suspect there’s more to the story.

Next, we get to how crime rates have declined across much of northeastern North Carolina in 2025, following a statewide trend, according to new figures released by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. You can find the report at the end of this story.

Of the 13 counties in the Albemarle Observer‘s coverage area, 10 recorded decreases in their overall reported crime rates, two recorded increases, and one lacked sufficient data for a 2025 countywide rate.

The figures, published in November 2026, show that the statewide crime rate dropped 10.7% from 2024 to 2025. Violent crime fell 13.2%, while property crime decreased 10.2%.

The regional results were less uniform. Some counties experienced substantial decreases in property crime while reporting increases in violent offenses.

Largest declines in Washington and Camden counties

Washington County recorded one of the region’s largest decreases in overall reported crime. Its crime rate fell from 2,654.5 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2024 to 1,845.8 in 2025, a decline of 30.5%. The county’s violent crime rate dropped from 948.0 to 439.9, a decrease of 53.6%, while its property crime rate declined from 1,706.5 to 1,405.9, or 17.6%.

Camden County experienced the largest percentage decrease in its overall crime rate among the counties with available data. Its rate fell from 888.0 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2024 to 575.8 in 2025, a decline of 35.2%. The violent crime rate decreased from 233.7 to 155.4, or 33.5%, while the property crime rate dropped from 654.3 to 420.4, a decrease of 35.7%.

Currituck County’s overall crime rate fell from 965.1 to 688.3 offenses per 100,000 residents, a decline of 28.7%. Its property crime rate decreased from 745.3 to 454.8, or 39.0%. However, the county’s violent crime rate increased from 219.8 to 233.5, a rise of 6.2%.

Bertie County’s overall crime rate decreased from 1,296.7 to 1,084.2 offenses per 100,000 residents, a decline of 16.4%. Its violent crime rate fell from 362.3 to 350.8, or 3.2%, while its property crime rate declined from 934.4 to 733.4, a decrease of 21.5%.

Violent crime increases in some counties

Martin County recorded the region’s largest percentage increase in its overall crime rate, rising from 390.1 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2024 to 486.8 in 2025, an increase of 24.8%. Its violent crime rate climbed from 54.9 to 147.7, an increase of 169.0%. The property crime rate remained relatively stable, rising from 335.2 to 339.1, or 1.2%.

Perquimans County also reported increases in both violent and property crime. Its overall crime rate rose from 1,078.5 to 1,280.0 offenses per 100,000 residents, an increase of 18.7%. The violent crime rate climbed from 212.5 to 318.1, or 49.7%, while the property crime rate increased from 866.0 to 961.9, a rise of 11.1%.

Tyrrell County’s violent crime rate increased from 258.6 to 345.1 offenses per 100,000 residents, a rise of 33.4%. However, the county’s overall crime rate declined from 1,120.7 to 1,035.4, a decrease of 7.6%. Its property crime rate fell from 862.1 to 690.3, a decline of 19.9%.

Hertford County’s violent crime rate increased slightly, from 327.0 to 334.1 offenses per 100,000 residents, a rise of 2.2%. However, its overall crime rate decreased from 1,962.1 to 1,727.0, a decline of 12.0%. The county’s property crime rate fell from 1,635.1 to 1,392.9, or 14.8%.

Mixed results across the Albemarle

Chowan County’s overall crime rate declined from 1,364.0 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2024 to 1,200.7 in 2025, a decrease of 12.0%. Its violent crime rate fell from 350.1 to 160.1, a decline of 54.3%. However, the property crime rate increased from 1,013.9 to 1,040.6, a rise of 2.6%.

Gates County recorded an overall crime rate decrease from 1,146.0 to 1,011.8 offenses per 100,000 residents, a decline of 11.7%. Its violent crime rate fell from 184.5 to 130.2, a decrease of 29.4%, while the property crime rate declined from 961.5 to 881.6, or 8.3%.

Dare County’s overall crime rate decreased from 1,628.1 to 1,496.5 offenses per 100,000 residents, a decline of 8.1%. Its violent crime rate fell from 218.3 to 160.0, a decrease of 26.7%, while the property crime rate declined from 1,409.8 to 1,336.5, or 5.2%.

Pasquotank County recorded a slight decline in its overall crime rate, from 1,893.6 to 1,882.3 offenses per 100,000 residents, a decrease of 0.6%. Its violent crime rate fell from 347.4 to 312.9, a decline of 9.9%. However, its property crime rate increased from 1,546.2 to 1,569.4, a rise of 1.5%.

The SBI did not publish a 2025 countywide crime rate for Hyde County because of insufficient reporting coverage. The absence of a published rate does not mean that no crimes occurred in the county.

Statewide violent and property crime decline

Across North Carolina, the SBI reported decreases in every major category of violent crime.

The statewide murder rate declined 13.9%, while the robbery rate fell 19.1%. The rape rate decreased 7.2%, and the aggravated assault rate fell 12.7%.

Property crimes also declined. Motor vehicle theft showed one of the largest decreases, with its statewide rate falling 20.5%.

The statewide burglary rate declined 8.5%, while the larceny rate fell 8.9%.

The SBI reported 714 murders statewide in 2025, compared with 816 in 2024. The number of robberies declined from 5,494 to 4,524.

Understanding the numbers

The SBI’s annual report uses crime rates per 100,000 residents to compare communities of different sizes. Those rates are calculated using offenses reported to participating law enforcement agencies and population estimates.

The figures represent reported offenses, not convictions, and do not include every type of crime.

The Crime Index includes murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. Arson is reported separately.

The county comparisons also depend on law enforcement agencies submitting data to the state’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Incomplete reporting can affect the reliability of comparisons.

The SBI said the 2025 report reflects information submitted by law enforcement agencies as of Oct. 22, 2026.

Edenton Police

• Two Edenton residents were arrested during a traffic stop of the 300-block of Oakum Street on Oct. 3.
• According to the incident report, Jausire Demauz Holley, 20, of the 300-block of Coke Avenue, Edenton, was arrested at 11:26 p.m. Oct. 3, on two misdemeanor charges of carrying concealed weapons. Kavion Kursei Jackson, 19, of the 300-block of Bosell Street, Edenton, was arrested at 10:43 p.m. Oct. 3, 2026, on a warrant for misdemeanor charges of carrying concealed weapons and resisting a public officer. During the traffic stop, police seized a Glock/23, a semi-automatic rifle with two 300 Blackout magazines, two 10-millimeter Glcok/29 hanguns and two ounces of marijuana. Holley’s secured bond was set at $2,000. Jackson’s secured bond was set at $10,000.
• During a separate incident, another Edenton man was arrested when several guns were found in their vehicle. According to Edenton police reports, at 5:31 p.m. Oct. 30, 2026, officers conducted a traffic stop on Paxton Lane. During the stop, officers found a Taurus 38-special handgun, a semi-automatic handgun and magazine loaded with 17 live 9-millimeter rounds, a handgun magazine for a Glock with six live 9-millimeter rounds, six .38-special live rounds and a 9-millimeter round.
• Tyquan Avion Fleming, 34, of the 100-block of Peterson Street, Edenton, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of carrying concealed weapons. No bond was set. Kemari Tyree Jackson, 21, of Winterville, was named as a passenger in that vehicle. He was arrested and faces a misdemeanor charge of carrying concealed weapons. A secured $10,000 bond was set.
• At 4:23 p.m. Oct. 30, 2026, Edenton Police responded to a report from Kemari Jackson, see above, regarding breaking and entering and larceny of property/receiving stolen goods on Caburrus Street. According to the report, the 17-year-old suspect took items from a vehicle, placed them in a black bookbag, and left the bag on someone’s property. The items include a pair of Nike Jordan 11/a, two handguns with several live rounds inside, two $100 bills, a hoodie, a Nike jacket, a pair of pants, a school tardy slip, and a Dairy Queen receipt.
• Joel Daniel DiLucia, 28, of Mavaton Road, Edenton, was arrested at 9:11 p.m. Nov. 2, 2026, on a warrant for a misdemeanor charge of second-degree trespass. According to the incident report, Food Lion, 300 Virginia Road, Edenton, reported that he was on the premises after being banned from the store. No bond was set.
• At 6:35 a.m. Nov. 3, 2026, Edenton Police responded to a report that an Edenton resident had been scammed out of $10,000 through the Internet.
• At 9:26 a.m. Nov. 3, 2026, Edenton Police responded to a report of misdemeanor larceny at Edenton Baptist Church, 200 S. Granville St., Edenton. The suspect attempted to purchase items at Walmart using stolen credit/debit cards.
• At 9:53 a.m. Nov. 3, 2026, Edenton Police responded to Hicks Street, John A. Holmes High School, for a report of simple assault/affray. According to the report, the 17-year-old suspect slammed the victim to the ground and proceeded to kick him in the head.

Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office

• Sterling Ducker, 135 Merciers Lane, Hertford, was arrested on Oct. 31, 2026, on a charge of commitment and confinement. A secured, $5,454 bond was set.
• Royce Whelan, 410 Woodville Road, Hertford, was arrested on Nov. 1, 2026, on charges of assault on a femalr and assault and battery. A scured, $1,500 bond was set.
• Lauren Edwards, 176 Sueola Beach Road, Hertofrd, was arrested on Nov. 3, 2026, on a charge of probation violation. A secured, $150,000 bond was set.
• Andre Horton, 610 New Hope Road, Hertford, was arrested on Nov. 4, 2026, on charges of felony possession of a Schedule II substance and simple possession of a Schedule VI substance. A secured, $1,500 bond was set.