City’s Reported Crime is at a 7-Year Low

Last week the City Council heard the annual report from all policing agencies that serve College Park.  The good news is that crime rates are down in most categories, both for 2013 year-to-date vs. the comparable period in 2012, as well as over the longer term.

First, the good news about the long-term reduction in crime rates.  Total reported crimes in 2012 were at a 7-year low: there were 832 reported crimes in 2012, down from 1,001 in 2011 and a high of 1,163 in 2008.

Most of the decrease was for property crimes (715 in 2012, down from 878 in 2011 and 1,030 in 2008.  Violent crimes were also down slightly (117 in 2012 vs. 123 in 2011 and 133 in 2008.

The most dramatic improvement was for burglaries (“breaking-and-entering”, down 58% from 2008) and stolen vehicles (down 45%).

Larceny theft was down 12% (this category includes thefts-from-auto, the most common crime in our area).  This table shows the detailed crime statistics:

2012
2011
2010
2009 (est.)
2008
2007
2006
Total crime  
832
1001
905
981
1163
1132
979
Total property crime  
715
878
785
873
1030
1008
856
Total violent crime  
117
123
120
108
133
124
123
Larceny theft
553
585
511
615
691
666
527
Stolen vehicles
84
97
72
88
152
192
175
Break-and-enters
78
196
202
170
187
150
154
Assault     
76
70
71
55
85
60
62
Robbery     
35
47
45
46
42
51
53
Forcible rape
4
2
2
5
5
12
7
Carjacking     
2
3
2
0
1
1
0
Homicide    
0
1
0
2
0
0
1
 

The reduced crime rate has continued during 2013.  For the Jan-Sept 2013 period, total reported crimes were down 2% from the same period in 2012.

Most notably, the number of violent crimes in 2013 is down 16% (64 in Jan-Sept 2013, down from 76 in Jan-Sept 2012).  The number of property crimes was the same during both periods.  The most significant reductions were for armed robberies and stolen vehicles, but unfortunately burglaries were up.  Here are the detailed statistics.

 
Jan-Sept 2013
Jan-Sept 2012
Total crime  
602
614
Total property crime  
538
538
Total violent crime  
64
76
Larceny theft
404
401
Stolen vehicles
60
74
Break-and-enters
74
63
Assault     
46
47
Robbery     
11
25
Forcible rape
5
3
Carjacking     
0
1
Homicide    
2
0

 

[Thanks to Council member Stullich for compiling this report]