Cops: Violent crime drops; auto thefts, arsons up

Overall crime in Chicago dropped for the 28th consecutive month in April, Chicago police said today. Crime dropped 7.2 percent when compared with last April.
Homicides fell by 14.2 percent compared to April 2010, with 17 fewer killings, police said citing preliminary numbers. Nearly half of the 25 police districts throughout the city showed a decrease in homicide numbers, with decreases in the double or triple digits, police said in a statement.
While property crime decreased by 6.1 percent compared to a year ago -- with thefts dropping by 12.9 percent and burglary dropping by 4.7 percent -- motor vehicle thefts continued to soar with thefts increasing by 20.1 percent, police said. Arsons also increased by 7.7 percent, police said.
Overall violent crime numbers dropped by 11.6 percent compared to April 2010, police said. Every category of violent crime decreased, led by a 17.8 percent drop in the number of aggravated batteries in the city, police said. Aggravated assaults dropped by 25.6 percent and robbery dipped by 6.7 percent.
Criminal sexual assaults were also down, declining slightly by 1.8 percent.
Officials said they were encouraged by the decrease in violent crime as the department prepares for a new police superintendent to take over, said Interim Superintendent Terry Hillard.
"It has been my duty since March to keep the department moving forward and have the Department prepared to move successfully into the future with the new superintendent," Hillard said in a statement. "These crime reductions, particularly the reduction in homicide totals, are a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the Chicago Police Department and their focus on the task at hand during a period of change for the city and the department."
COMMENT:

Ben Dover1 at 10:35 AM May 08, 2011 Remember this when dealing with the CPD and crime statistics....
Figures lie - Liars Figure.
If you want the truth, ask a beat cop, I know, I am one. When the bean counters at 35th get down with the numbers we ALWAYS have a dip in crime, or REPORTED crime.
The question is, do you really feel that much safer? If so, take your head out of the sand. There are many, many things that are not getting reported happening out there.
I hope that the new mayor will offer some sort of complete transparency when he gets in, but I doubt it. It is kind of like The Who once sung: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss".
AT CRIME IN CHICAGO.BLOGSPOT. COM WE TRY TO BRING YOU THE TRUE NUMBERS