Property crimes drove up Dunwoody’s crime rate in 2012 and violent crimes are trending up in 2013, according to data provided by police.
The Dunwoody Police Department has released its annual report for 2012, and Part 1 crimes are up by 11.4 percent overall. Police Chief Billy Grogan cited burglaries and motor vehicle thefts as the main reason for the increases in 2012.
“Our largest increase was for burglary, which increased by 22 percent,” Grogan said in the report. “This category was closely followed by motor vehicle theft (MVT), which saw a 16.8 percent increase.”
Part 1 crimes are crimes like murder and burglary that are more likely to be reported to police soon after they happen. The data is collected as part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting program.
Data released this year show that Part 1 crime from January to June is down 11.8 percent overall, compared with the same period in 2012. The decrease is primarily in property crimes. Violent crimes reported in January through June are up 34.8 percent. Rape is up 100 percent, armed robbery is up 33 percent and aggravated assault is up 50 percent.
Property crime over the same period is down 12.9 percent, according to Dunwoody Police data.
Grogan said he is unsure why violent crimes have increased in the first six months of 2013.
“We were down significantly last year so it may just be a correction,” he said. “Last year could have just been a little unusual. The raw number is still very small.”
To see the comparison reports from January through June of 2012 and 2013, click this link: DPD+Crime+Comparison+2012-2013+thru+June+PDF
To see comparisons of Part 1 crimes in 2011 and 2012, click this link: DPD+Crime+Comparison+2011-2012+PDF
Grogan told Reporter Newspapers that the recent addition of a crime response team gave the department an extra sergeant and three officers. The department also now has a prisoner transport officer, which Grogan said is a civilian position.
“I believe these changes will have a positive impact on crime in Dunwoody this year and in the future,” Grogan said.
To download the annual report, click this link: 2012 DPD REPORT FINAL.
Comments are closed.