Georgia Crime Patterns Defy Expectations as Offenses Peak Before Sunset, Not After Dark

Contrary to popular belief, crime in Georgia is most likely to occur during late afternoon hours, not late at night, according to a new statewide crime analysis reviewing 205,472 reported offenses in 2024.

The study from John Foy & Associates found that 23% of all crimes occurred between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., making late afternoon the most active crime window in the state. An additional 22.8% of offenses took place between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., while the early-morning hours between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. saw the lowest crime activity.

These findings suggest that crime in Georgia is driven more by opportunity and routine activity than darkness alone. The late-afternoon spike coincides with commuting hours, business closures, school dismissals, and increased foot and vehicle traffic—conditions that create opportunities for theft, assault, and property crime.

Overall, property crimes dominated Georgia’s 2024 offense profile, accounting for nearly 84% of all reported incidents. Larceny-theft was the most common offense, with more than 126,000 cases, followed by motor vehicle theft and burglary. Violent crime made up a smaller share but remained a serious concern, led by aggravated assault.

Demographic trends revealed that adults aged 30 to 39 were responsible for the largest share of crimes, followed closely by individuals aged 22 to 29. These groups were most involved in theft-related offenses and assaults, while crime rates declined significantly among older age groups.

Looking at longer-term trends, Georgia’s crime levels increased substantially between 2020 and 2023, peaking at 226,648 reported incidents, before declining slightly in 2024. Property crime growth—particularly theft and vehicle-related offenses—drove much of this increase.

The report also points to encouraging developments. In Atlanta, improvements to emergency response systems have reduced average 911 call answer times from 24.3 seconds in 2020 to 12.5 seconds in 2024. While direct causation cannot be established, faster response times may be contributing to crime stabilization in high-incident areas.

The findings highlight the importance of time-specific prevention strategies, such as increased patrols during late afternoon hours and public awareness campaigns focused on routine activity risks. As Georgia continues to grow, aligning enforcement resources with when and where crime actually occurs may prove critical to sustaining recent improvements in public safety.