Lugano Safety Authorities Report Drop in Street Crime as Summer Tourist Season Peaks

Lugano's municipal police department released its latest weekly security report Friday, showing a 12 percent decline in reported street crimes during the first week of July compared to the same period last year. The data covers incidents across the city's central districts, including Lugano Centro, Paradiso, and Cassarate, where foot traffic and tourist numbers typically spike during summer months.

The timing of the report matters. As international visitors pack ferries on Lake Ceresio and crowd outdoor tables along Via Nassa, city officials want residents and tourists to know that policing efforts are paying dividends. Rising crime in comparable Swiss cities-Zurich recorded a 3.2 percent increase in theft from vehicles during June alone-makes Lugano's performance noteworthy. The canton's tourism board estimates 87,000 overnight stays in Lugano during June, up from 79,000 the previous year.

The improvement doesn't apply uniformly across town. Police noted that incidents near the Stazione Centrale train station and in the Foce neighbourhood remained above last year's levels, with 14 reported incidents of pickpocketing and bag theft at the station during the week of July 4-10. The downtown core around the Piazza della Riforma, by contrast, benefited from increased foot patrols and the presence of additional security cameras installed by the municipality in April.

Where the Gains Came From

The police attributed much of the improvement to operational changes implemented in March. A dedicated evening patrol unit now covers the waterfront promenade between Parco Ciani and the Lido Lugano complex from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., the hours when most thefts and disturbances historically occur. That unit made 23 arrests or citations last week, a significant jump from the weekly average of 8 recorded before the program launched.

Community policing initiatives through the Lugano City Police partnership with local business associations have also contributed. Shop owners and restaurant staff in the Contrada dei Mercanti district report they've received training in spotting suspicious activity and communicating directly with patrols via a WhatsApp alert system that launched in May. One hundred and forty-three businesses have enrolled so far.

Residents in Cassarate told police they felt safer following the installation of improved street lighting along Via Cattaneo in late June, a project costing 156,000 Swiss francs. The area had experienced four robbery incidents in 2025, dropping to zero reported incidents in the first six weeks after the lights were activated.

The Picture Ahead

Police say they expect foot traffic to remain elevated through August, with the Lugano Festival and various summer events drawing crowds. The department is not requesting additional budget allocations for July and August, contrary to expectations raised in May by the city council's security committee. Instead, they plan to deploy existing resources more strategically, rotating patrols to cover both high-density tourist areas and residential neighbourhoods like Cadro and Cassina where burglaries had been a concern.

Residents can file safety concerns through the renovated Lugano Police website, which now accepts anonymous reports, or by calling the non-emergency line at 117 from any phone. The department publishes updated crime statistics on the first Friday of each month.