Index crime in 2007 showed double-digit decreases in both Beat 2431 and the 24th Police District as a whole, compared to 2006.
In Beat 2431, index crime dropped 11.4% in 2007 compared with 2006. There were 36 fewer crime victims in 2007 -- 316 reports of index crime vs. 352 in 2006. Index crimes includes homicide, criminal sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and battery, burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft.
Aggravated assault and battery fell the most -- a 40% drop with with 27 reported in 2007 vs. 45 in 2006. However, robberies increased 24.4% -- 51 in 2007 vs. 41 in 2006. There were 7 fewer burglaries in 2007, (41 vs. 48 in 2006) representing a 14.6% decrease. Thefts dropped 8.5% (172 in 2007 vs. 188 in 2006), and car theft decreased 11.4% (23 vs. 26).
Meanwhile, the 24th Police District boasted the largest decrease in index crime of any of the 25 police districts citywide -- a 13.6% dip. Citywide, index crime dropped 3.47%. Car theft (23%) and robbery (20%) showed the biggest drops in the 24th District.
The 24th Police District Cmdr. Bruce Rottner credited both citizen participation in the CAPS program and great work by police officers for the crime decreases.
