|
CMPD - Crime Statistics Summary for March 2008
(released April 22, 2008)
|
Following four months of declining crime, there were increases in both property and violent crime in March. Compared to February, Violent Index crime was up 11.0% (59 more crimes) and Property crime was up 11.3% (416 more crimes). Increases in robbery account for most of the change in Violent crime and increases in larcenies and burglaries make up most of the change in Property crime.
Compared to the same period last year:
20 cases were classified as Homicides by the end of March 2008 compared to 19 last year
There was one more report of Rape this year compared to last
Robbery increased by 15.1%
Aggravated Assault rose 16.8%
Burglary was up by 8.3%; residential increased 17.8% while commercial cases dropped by -14%
Reports of vehicle thefts increased 8.2%
Larceny from auto, which comprised one-third of all Index crimes, showed a rise of 27%, while the second largest larceny category (Larceny-Other) showed a decrease this year of -4.2%.
2310 Index cases were cleared in the first quarter, almost 10% more than were cleared in the same three months last year
Arrests were up 9.5% overall and 16.4% for those who have committed property crimes
Citations increased 4.2%.
|
|
The CMPD is taking a number of steps to address the up-tick in crime:
Aggressively focusing on the repeat offenders who are committing the majority of crime
Conducting field interviews with people (up 10% this year to date over last)
Increasing zone checks (up 106% this year over last) to provide increased visibility
Continuing focus on crime hotspots
Working with residents to establish neighborhood watch programs and evaluating crime prevention options with homeowners
Emphasizing crime prevention steps people can take to reduce larcenies from autos by not leaving items of value inside a vehicle
Addressing quality of life concerns that can contribute to crime (abandoned houses, lighting, trash and untended fields and yards)
Developing options for making cases against those who commit property crimes that will result in increased penalties (higher bonds, monitoring upon release, jail time)
|
|
|
|
 |
