July 25, 2011 - Houston’s crime rates for the first half of 2011, as compared to the first six months of the previous year, have dropped dramatically throughout the city.  Total crime – in UCR Part One violent and nonviolent categories - has decreased by 11 percent, building on last year’s success of already lower violent and nonviolent crime statistics.

Violent crime has decreased 9.2 percent compared to the same period a year ago.  Murders are down 37.1 percent, which is a significantly lower rate in comparison to previous years’ rates.  In addition, robberies plummeted 20.8 percent.  There was a slight increase from January through June, of 7.8 percent, in rapes compared to the same period in 2010.  This is the only category with an increase.

Nonviolent crimes have decreased 11.3 percent, with a 12.4 percent drop in auto thefts.  In breaking down thefts in the city, burglaries of motor vehicles (BMVs) are down 15.29 percent for the first six months of the year.  BMVs are the most preventable crimes and this drop appears to indicate the citizens of Houston have received the message to lock their vehicles and remove and hide their valuables.

In addition, burglaries of residences are also down 9.5 percent, compared to the same period last year.  This can be attributed to citizens taking precautions to protect their homes, and officers targeting patrols in neighborhoods based on crime data supplied by the 24-hour Crime Center and investigative efforts.

HPD Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. praises the continued tireless efforts of his officers and the citizens of Houston at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKnvGBOQJa8



7-25-11