AGENDA #5b

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Report on Crime Rates Per Population 

DATE: February 9, 2004

The Council has requested quarterly updates on reported crime and drug charges in the Northside neighborhood.

For purposes of this report Northside is the area west of Church Street, north of West Rosemary Street, and north to McMasters, Mason and Carver Streets.  Population figures were taken from the United States Census.  The population for Northside is estimated at 1,244 and for the Town 48,750.

The information below includes reported crime and drug charges for the first two quarters of Fiscal Year 2003-2004.  The crime rate is compared to the same six-month period in 2002-2003.

Town                                             Northside

	7-1-03 to 12-31-03		Change in per capita from previous year	7-1-03 to 12-31-03		Change in per capita from previous year
	Number	Per 1,000		Number	Per 1,000
Homicide	0	0	-100%	0	0	-100%
Rape	9	.18	+200%	1	.80	--
Robbery	53	1.09	+13%	4	3.22	-34%
Aggravated Assault	58	1.19	-12%	5	4.02	+25%
Total Personal Crimes	120	2.46	+3%	10	8.04	-9%
Burglary	321	6.58	+41%	38	30.55	+65%
Larceny	850	17.44	-14%	20	16.08	-56%
Motor Vehicle Theft	47	.96	-2%	1	.80	-50%
Total Property Crimes	1,218	24.98	-4%	59	47.43	-16%
Total	1,338	37.45	-3%	69	55.47	-15%
Drug Charges	185	3.79	+1%	53	42.60	-2%

NOTE: When actual numbers are fairly small, large percentage changes occur.

Both the Town and Northside experienced a decrease in reported crime compared to last year.  In Northside personal crimes decreased by 9% and property crime by 16%, resulting in a 15% decrease in total major crimes reported.  Town-wide, personal crime increased by 3% and property crime decreased by 4% resulting in a total decrease of 3%. 

There was a dramatic increase in burglaries during the six months.  Many of these occurred in neighborhoods surrounding the Central Business District and the Umstead Drive area.  Laptop computers and other small electronic devices were often taken.  During warm weather burglaries were occurring in the eastern part of Chapel Hill during the day, often when the residents were working in their yards.  In these cases purses, wallets, and cash were taken.

During the quarter twenty-nine people were arrested on thirty-three burglary charges.  Also, seven people were arrested for Possession of Stolen Property.  They had over 200 stolen items in their residence, some of which had been taken from residential burglaries.  We believe these arrests have curbed the number of burglaries.  There were 38 burglaries reported in December, 2003, compared to 72 in August.

Addendum: Definitions of Crimes

Definitions of the Crimes:  The major crimes definitions are provided by the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCRP) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Major crimes are categorized as violent (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) and property (burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft) crimes.

According to the UCRP:

            Murder is the willful killing of a human being.

Rape is forced vaginal intercourse.

Robbery is the taking of anything of value from a person by force, threat of force or violence, or by putting the victim in fear. 

Aggravated Assault is an unlawful attack for the purpose of inflicting severe injury.  An aggravated assault usually involves a weapon or force that is likely to cause death or severe injury. 

Burglary is the unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit a felony or a theft.  Force is not required; unlawful entry through an unlocked door is a burglary.  The building can be a residence, commercial property, construction trailer, shed, etc.

Larceny is taking or stealing property without the use of violence or fraud.  It includes shoplifting, taking items from vehicles, and bicycle theft.

Motor Vehicle Theft is taking or stealing an automobile, truck, motorcycle, moped, etc.