FBI: Ore. violent crime down, property crime up
The FBI released its annual Crime in the United States report for American cities on Monday.
Nationally, violent crime fell for the fifth year in a row, dropping 4.5% (per 100,000 people) in 2011. Property crime fell for the ninth year in a row, dropping by 1.3% (per 100,000 people.)
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program collects data on specific violent crimes (murder & non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault) and specific property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft.)
In 2011, six of the seven categories saw decreases nationally; only the number of burglaries increased, and that increase was slight (0.2% per 100,000 people.)
Some highlights from cities with populations of more than 100,000 people in the Pacific Northwest include:
The rate of violent crime for Oregon’s cities decreased by 1.5% (per 100,000 people), and property crime increased 2.5% (per 100,000 people.)
The rate of violent crime for Washington’s cities decreased by 6.0% (per 100,000 people), and its property crime rate decreased by 3.4% (per 100,000 people.) In Portland, there were decreases in the numbers of murders/non-negligent manslaughters (from 22 to 20), robberies and motor vehicle thefts. There were increases in the numbers of rapes, aggravated assaults, burglaries and larceny-thefts. In Eugene, there were decreases in the number of rapes and motor vehicle thefts, but increases in the numbers of robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries and larceny-thefts. There were no murders/non-negligent manslaughters in either 2010 or 2011. In Gresham, there were decreases in the number of murders/non-negligent manslaughters (7 to 1), as well as rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults and motor vehicle thefts. There were increases in the numbers of burglaries and larceny-thefts. In Salem, there were decreases in the numbers rapes and larceny-thefts. There were increases in the numbers of murders/non-negligent manslaughters (1 to 3), aggravated assaults and burglaries. The number of robberies and motor vehicle thefts were virtually unchanged. In Vancouver, there were decreases in the numbers of rapes, aggravated assaults, larceny-thefts and motor vehicle thefts. There were increases in the number of murders/non-negligent manslaughters (0 to 9), robberies, and burglaries.
The breakdown for these cities of populations of 100,000 and more is:
PORTLAND
2010
2011
Murder & non-negligent manslaughter
22
20
Forcible Rape
230
258
Robbery
1,005
917
Aggravated Assault
1,794
1,842
Burglary
4,120
4,303
Larceny-theft
21,026
22,494
Motor vehicle theft
3,245
3,225
EUGENE
2010
2011
Murder & non-negligent manslaughter
0
0
Forcible rape
80
78
Robbery
168
177
Aggravated assault
168
205
Burglary
1,293
1,440
Larceny-theft
5,136
5,862
Motor vehicle theft
599
576
GRESHAM
2010
2011
Murder & non-negligent manslaughter
7
1
Forcible Rape
42
31
Robbery
176
172
Aggravated Assault
245
212
Burglary
674
751
Larceny-theft
2,714
2,943
Motor vehicle theft
667
617
SALEM
2010
2011
Murder & non-negligent manslaughter
1
3
Forcible Rape
48
32
Robbery
118
119
Aggravated Assault
316
365
Burglary
868
891
Larceny-theft
4,761
4,641
Motor vehicle theft
427
428
VANCOUVER
2010
2011
Murder & non-negligent manslaughter
0
9
Forcible Rape
112
102
Robbery
173
185
Aggravated Assault
386
337
Burglary
939
950
Larceny-theft
4,682
4,629
Motor vehicle theft
923
868
As for Central Oregon cities:
Bend reported 204 violent crimes, including one murder or non-negligent manslaughter, 25 forcible rapes, 27 robberies and 151 aggravated assaults. There were 2,416 property crimes, including 365 burglaries, 1,978 larcenies and thefts, and 73 motor vehicle thefts.
Bend violent crimes dropped 17 percent last year, but property crimes held steady, up just 0.25 percent
Bend police said they are not surprised by the drop in violent crimes.
“We’ve started some domestic violence programs to try to curb that, so we can lessen those types of crimes,” said Lt. Chris Carney. “And we know a lot of our homicides can typically be related to domestic violence type of incidents.”
“So we’re trying to do a lot of those types of things, outside of just going out and taking a report, or just going out and arresting somebody. We’re kind of trying to do things on the front end, to try to be more proactive, to see what we can do to reduce the type of crimes.”
Madras reported 11 violent crimes, including two forcible rapes, three robberies and six aggravated assaults. There were 265 property crimes reported, including 59 burglaries, 188 larcenies/thefts and 18 motor vehicle thefts.
Prineville reported 20 violent crimes, including 16 forcible rapes, 12 robberies and 53 aggravated assaults. There were 251 property crimes, including 43 burglaries, 204 larcenies and thefts and four motor vehicle thefts.
Redmond had 81 violent crimes reported, including 16 rapes and 12 burglaries. There were 1,453 property crimes, including 218 burglaries, 1,182 larcenies and thefts, and 53 motor vehicle thefts.
Redmond violent crimes dropped by 9 percent, but property crimes rose 6.8 percent, according to the FBI statistics.
For more of the numbers on smaller cities within Oregon and Washington, visit http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_by_state_by_city_2011.xls/view
More than 18,200 city, county, state, federal, college/university and tribal law enforcement agencies voluntarily contribute data to this annual report.
The FBI simply compiles the information as it is provided from local jurisdictions.
Also note that the report features a prominent message cautioning against using the statistics to rank cities or counties. Such rankings can lead to simplistic or incomplete analyses, overlooking the many variables impacting crime and its reporting.
The FBI has been producing the Uniform Crime Report since 1930.
