AGENDA #5b
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Report on Crime Rates Per Population
DATE: September 22, 2003
On September 8, 2003, we presented to the Council per capita crime statistics for the Northside neighborhood and the Town. Council Members requested more information.
Definitions of the crimes were requested. For purposes of listing the offenses reported to Council, we use the major crimes definitions 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.
A Council member asked why the Town population figure is lower than the current population figure.
In order to compile population figures for Northside, we used the latest available information-2000 United States Census data. We estimated the Northside population to be 1,090. Since our initial report in April, the Town Planning Department has estimated that the Northside population was 1,244 in 2000. We will use that figure in future reports.
Since only 2000 population figures are available for Northside we used the 2000 United States Census population figure for the Town. This provides a more valid comparison than using updated figures for only the Town.
A Council member asked if the crime rate for Chapel Hill could be compared to regional, state and national figures. This cannot be done quarterly because these figures are not available that quickly. North Carolina publishes crime statistics every six months, usually three to four months after the six month period. National figures take even longer to compile and publish.
A Council member asked for further discussion of the chart presented. The chart, which compares the first six months of 2002 to the first six months of 2003, shows a 7% increase in per capita crime for Chapel Hill and an 18% decrease for Northside. For both the Town and Northside, the actual numbers are small–82 more crimes Town-wide and 8 fewer crimes in Northside. The most significant change for Northside residents was a 41% decrease in larcenies (from 34 to 20) while Town-wide larcenies increased from 845 to 952.
ATTACHMENTS
1. September 8, 2003, Report on Crime Rates Per Population (p. 3).
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Report on Crime Rates Per Population
DATE: September 8, 2003
During a budget work session a Council Member requested per capita information for crime and drug arrests in Northside and for the entire Town. This information will be presented on a regular basis.
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 1,090 and for the Town 48,750.
The information below is crime and drug charges for January 1 to June 30, 2003. The per capita crime rate is compared to the same six-month period in 2002.
Town Northside
|
|
1-1-03 to 6-30-03 |
Change in per capita from previous year |
|
1-1-03 to 6-30-03 |
Change in per capita from previous year |
||
|
|
Number |
Per Capita (1,000) |
Number |
Per Capita (1,000)
|
|||
|
Homicide |
0 |
0 |
No Change |
0 |
0 |
No Change |
|
|
Rape |
1 |
.02 |
-75% |
0 |
0 |
No Change |
|
|
Robbery |
34 |
.70 |
-11% |
5 |
4.59 |
+150% |
|
|
Aggravated Assault |
47 |
.96 |
-37% |
6 |
5.50 |
-33% |
|
Total Personal Crimes |
82 |
1.68 |
-30% |
11 |
10.09 |
No Change |
|
|
Burglary |
204 |
4.18 |
+12% |
20 |
18.35 |
+11% |
|
|
Larceny |
952 |
19.53 |
+13% |
20 |
18.35 |
-41% |
|
|
Motor Vehicle Theft |
50 |
1.03 |
-19% |
2 |
1.83 |
No Change |
|
Total Property Crimes |
1,206 |
24.74 |
+11% |
42 |
38.53 |
-22% |
|
|
Total |
1,288 |
26.42 |
+7% |
53 |
48.62 |
-18% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drug Charges |
180 |
3.69 |
-2% |
30 |
27.5 |
No Change |
|
It is important to note that when actual numbers are fairly small, large percentage changes occur.