Fargo Crime Down–With One Exception

FARGO, ND–Fargo Police say crime in the city is down from last year.  But there’s one category where crime is up. Fargo Police say over the first eight months of 2026, crime is down 13 percent from the same period last year.  But crimes involving violence against people went up slightly.  That includes assault, intimidation, abduction and kidnapping. Fargo Police Chief Travis Stefonowicz says more than half of the assault cases come from domestic assault.  He says reducing violence against people crimes is difficult because those crimes involve people, rather than property.   Getting back to the good news, Fargo Police say shoplifting accounts for about a third of the crime decline.  Stefonowicz credits retailers using new technology and store layout changes that are designed to prevent theft.