Crime Drops Again in Holly Springs as Police Report 14% Decline from Five-Year Average
New annual report shows crime dropped 14% compared with the five-year average while officers respond to emerging threats like online scams and sextortion.
Holly Springs, NC, Mar. 9, 2026 — During last Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Police Chief Paul Liquorie presented the Holly Springs Police Department’s 2025 Annual Report (document), outlining crime statistics, policing trends, and new initiatives to address emerging threats, including online fraud and internet crimes involving children.
According to the report, the town’s already low crime rate declined 14% compared with the five-year average, reinforcing the department’s message that public safety remains strong even as Holly Springs continues to grow.
The report covers the period January 1st through December 31st, 2025, and is designed to give both policymakers and residents a transparent look at crime trends, enforcement activity, and how the department is adapting to the community’s evolving needs.
Key Takeaways
Police leaders summarized several major themes from the annual report:
Holly Springs’ crime rate declined 14% compared with the five-year average
Enforcement activity remained statistically consistent year to year
The department is adapting to new crime trends, particularly cyber-related offenses
Community engagement remains a top priority for the department.
Property Crime Declines Across All Categories
One of the report’s most notable findings is that every major property crime category declined compared with the previous year.
Police officials noted that property crime statistics can include a wide range of incidents beyond traditional home burglaries or car thefts. For example, motor vehicle cases may involve trailers or other conveyances, while burglaries can include vacant apartments or unoccupied buildings.
Arson cases remained extremely rare. Police reported just one incident in 2025, which involved a brush fire rather than damage to a structure.
Violent Crime Remains Low
Crimes against persons also declined compared with the previous year.
Most notably, Holly Springs has now recorded zero homicides for five consecutive years, a statistic the department highlighted as evidence of the town’s overall safety.
Robbery incidents were also limited. Police reported just two robberies in 2025:
A shoplifting incident that escalated when a suspect produced a box cutter
A domestic violence incident involving force used to obtain property
Police said suspects were arrested in both cases.
Assault statistics also include a number of incidents involving threats rather than physical harm. Approximately 35% of assault-related cases involved communicating threats or intimidation, meaning no physical injury occurred.
For sexual offenses, police recorded nine incidents in 2025. In seven of those cases, the offender was known to the victim, while the remaining two involved unwanted touching.
Arrest Trends Reflect Regional Traffic and Retail Activity
Police made 589 arrests in 2025, with the most common reasons remaining consistent with previous years.
The leading causes included:
Outstanding warrants
Narcotics violations
Larceny is often tied to large retailers in town
Driving while impaired (DWI)
Assault cases, many related to domestic violence
Liquorie emphasized that many arrests are non-discretionary, particularly domestic violence cases where state law requires officers to arrest the primary aggressor.
The report also highlighted Holly Springs’ location within a busy regional corridor.
Approximately 63% of people arrested in town were not Holly Springs residents, reflecting the significant number of commuters and travelers who pass through the community each day.
Transparency Data: Use of Force and Traffic Stops
The department also shared enforcement transparency metrics.
Out of the 589 arrests last year, only about 4% involved any use of force, totaling 14 incidents.
Those incidents included:
Eight cases where officers displayed a firearm or Taser to gain compliance but did not use physical force
Four cases involving hands-on grappling to make an arrest
Two cases involving police canine deployment
The canine incidents occurred during a burglary investigation involving a suspect hiding in a vacant house and during a domestic violence case involving an armed suspect who fled.
Traffic enforcement data also showed that most stops resulted in warnings.
Holly Springs officers conducted 7,463 traffic stops in 2025, with 74% resulting in verbal or written warnings rather than citations.
Vehicle Collisions Trending Down
Crash data also showed improvement.
Overall, motor vehicle collisions declined compared with the previous two years.
Two fatal collisions were included in the statewide reporting data. Police clarified, however, that only one occurred within the town limits, while the other took place in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and was handled by the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
New Initiatives Target Emerging Crime Trends
While most traditional crime categories declined, the department noted increases in financial fraud and internet crimes against children.
In response, the department launched two major initiatives in 2025.
Financial Crimes Investigator
Police added a full-time financial crimes investigator to focus on scams and online fraud.
Investigators say many cases involve internet-based scams targeting senior citizens, including schemes involving cryptocurrency or requests to purchase gift cards.
Police reported that investigators recently recovered more than $120,000 for residents who had been defrauded.
Town officials are also exploring potential measures such as warning signs at Bitcoin ATMs, which investigators say are sometimes used in fraud schemes.
Internet Crimes Against Children Enforcement
The department has also expanded efforts to combat online exploitation.
Officers and crime analysts have received specialized training to investigate cases involving:
Online solicitation of minors
Distribution of child sexual abuse material
Sextortion schemes targeting young people
Police say sextortion, where victims are pressured to send explicit images and then threatened with exposure unless they pay money, has become an increasing concern nationwide.
Adapting to a Growing Community
Police leaders also highlighted operational changes designed to keep pace with Holly Springs’ rapid development.
The department introduced a new patrol zone deployment system, which reorganizes patrol areas to reflect the town’s geographic expansion and increased call volumes.
Police say the pilot program is helping officers become more familiar with new growth areas while maintaining response times.
Community Engagement Remains a Priority
Beyond enforcement, the department emphasized that community engagement continues to play a central role in its strategy.
Police regularly conduct senior safety talks in partnership with Parks and Recreation, focusing on preventing scams and online fraud targeting older residents.
The department is also developing new educational programs for parents and families to address digital safety issues, including risks from online gaming platforms and social media.
Police leaders say that a combination of education, outreach, and targeted enforcement reflects the department’s broader philosophy. As Liquorie told council members,
“Our mantra is being purposeful in our policing.”
What’s Next
The Town Council’s role regarding the report was simply to receive it, which provides an overview of crime trends and departmental activity for the previous year.
Police leaders say the report will also guide future decisions about staffing, training, and technology as Holly Springs continues to grow.