AGENDA #5a

MEMORANDUM

 

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Report on Crime Rates Per Population 

 

DATE:             November 24, 2003

 

 

The Council has requested quarterly reports 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 quarter 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 9-30-03		Change in per capita from previous year		7-1-03 to 9-30-03		Change in per capita from previous year
	Number	Per Capita (1,000)			Number	Per Capita (1,000)
Homicide	0	0	0		0	0	0
Rape	4	.08	+300%		0	0	0
Robbery	20	.41	-26%		3	2.41	Same
Aggravated Assault	25	.51	-26%		3	2.41	+200%
Total Personal Crimes	49	1.01	-21%		6	4.82	+50%
Burglary	170	3.49	+67%		18	14.47	+260%
Larceny	395	8.10	-4%		12	9.65	-43%
Motor Vehicle Theft	31	0.64	+41%		0	0	0
Total Property Crimes	596	12.23	+11%		30	24.12	+15%
Total	645	13..23	+8%		36	28.94	+20%
Drug Charges	45	.92	-49%		29	23.31	-26%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Both the Town and Northside experienced an increase in reported crime compared to last year.  In Northside two more aggravated assaults were reported which resulted in a 50% increase in personal crimes.  Burglaries increased as well (from 102 to 170 Town-wide and from 5 to 18 in Northside).  Nineteen people were arrested on twenty-two burglary charges during the quarter. 

 

Drug arrests are down due to police officer vacancies which has limited the amount of covert enforcement done.

 

ATTACHMENT

 

1. Definitions of Crimes (p.3).

ATTACHMENT 1

 

2. 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.