Turner urges Houstonians to 'be aware of their surroundings' as crimes spike in the city

A spike in crimes in Houston has put a damper on nightlife in the city. 

To address the issues, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Chief of Police Troy Finner met with local club owners to discuss improving safety at their businesses. 

During the session, city leaders assured the business owners that they hear their concerns and want to address the issues. 

“Mayor Sylvester Turner told the club owners gathered that the city will address security in and outside entertainment venues to keep Houston safe,” Mary Benton, Turner’s office communications director, said in a tweet after the June 23 meeting. “Most businesses are great partners/responsible, but crime, guns and disruption created in neighborhoods/nearby homes must be addressed.”

According to an ABC 13 report, by June 11 Houston police had responded to 202 homicides in the city, surpassing the 148 reported homicides during the same period last year. Turner took to Twitter to urge residents to be vigilant. 

“While you are out shopping, eating or going to the bank, please be aware of your surroundings and this is especially true at night," he said in a tweet posted earlier this month. “Try not to be on phone when approaching your home.” 

On Twitter, Houston police reported that an officer was recently involved in a shooting in the 14000 block of Minetta. According to the tweet, a suspect fired at the officer, who was sitting in a patrol vehicle. He was not injured and returned fire. The suspect remained at large that night, according to the post. In a separate post on Twitter, Benton lauded President Joe Biden for addressing crime and drug violence in major cities, while citing local efforts to improve safety. 

“Mayor Turner and Police Chief Finner are committed to working with the community and doing everything necessary to keep Houston safe,” she said in the post. 

The city has been plagued by a rash of violent crimes, including a drive-by shooting outside a bar that injured five people, according to Yahoo News. Houston Daily reported the death of a League City man, who was shot and killed after a night out at an upscale Houston eatery. According to The Daily, aggravated assaults are up 7% year-over-year, with 5,971 reported by the end of April, up from 5,565 during the same period last year. 

According to The Daily, the city has seen an increase in violations of weapon laws, up nearly 55% compared with the same period last year. Animal cruelty reports have increased 66%, according to the newspaper. 

The Houston Police Department also offers tools to help residents and business owners track crime in their neighborhoods, including monthly data maps, crime maps and a monthly beat and boundary report, according to the Houston Daily.