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 CRIME STATISTICS RELEASED OVERVIEW OF 2009 CRIME TRENDS - Overall, Major Crimes were up in Seattle in 2009 by 7% when compared with 2008. This followed a large reduction in crime in 2007 and a smaller decline in 2008 that saw the city’s crime rate fall to a forty year low. Even with the increase experienced in 2009, the rate of crime in Seattle, when adjusted for population, is at a level not seen since the late 1960’s. Several trends within the 2009 crime statistics are important to note. First, the citywide Major Crime increase in 2009 did not occur in all crime categories. In two of the most serious crimes – homicide and rape – there were double-digit decreases. Vehicle theft also showed a double-digit decline, continuing a five-year trend. Burglaries posted a modest increase over the level in 2008. The three crimes most responsible for the overall increase in Major Crimes were robbery, aggravated assault and larceny/theft. Second, crime trends varied across the city in 2009. South Precinct, which saw a Major Crime increase in 2008, showed a decline in 2009, the only precinct to do so. North and East Precincts tallied Major Crime increases at the citywide level in 2009, while West and Southwest Precincts recorded Major Crime increases greater than the citywide level. The precincts also showed different patterns in specific crimes, when compared to the citywide trends. For example, whereas the trend citywide showed an increase in robbery, East and South Precincts tallied declines in that crime. While there was a citywide increase in aggravated assaults, East precinct saw a reduction in 2009, and West Precinct recorded almost the same number of serious assaults in 2009 as in 2008. With respect to burglary, while there was a modest increase citywide, West and South precincts recorded burglary decreases. To address these varied trends, precinct commanders have the latitude to deploy resources for proactive patrol in crime hotspots, and for rapid response to pattern crimes. They can also call upon task forces and specialized units, such as Gangs, to supplement and support the work of Patrol units. MAJOR CRIMES: A 10 YEAR COMPARISON One final note on the 2009 Major Crime trends is apparent when they are viewed not only in comparison with 2008, but also in light of the trends over a period of years. The table below presents a ten-year picture of Major Crimes in Seattle. In the last two rows, the ten-year average for each crime category is shown as well as the comparison of the 2009 figures to this average. As the table demonstrates, the Major Crime totals for 2009 are below the ten-year averages in all crimes, except robbery.
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