Contact: Elaine Tricoli
Phone: (336) 373-2421

 Police Release Crime Statistics for First Six Months of 2008

GREENSBORO, NC – (July 21, 2008) – Crime statistics comparing the first six months of 2008 with the first six months of 2007 show that violent crime in Greensboro increased by 1.3 percent, while property crimes increased by 4.6 percent.

The Greensboro Police Department released the statistics today. During the first six months of 2008, police investigated 948 violent crimes, up from 936 during the first six months of 2007. Violent crimes include murder, rape, commercial robbery, individual robbery and aggravated assault.

Although the number of violent crimes remained relatively constant in the two comparison periods, statistics show a decrease in June 2008, when violent crimes dropped to 143 from a six-month high of 179 in May. Violent crimes peaked at 210 in May 2007.

The number of property crimes reported increased to 7,619 in the first six months of 2008, from 7,281 in the first six months of 2007. Other metropolitan areas in North Carolina are reporting similar trends.

“Most likely, what we’re seeing is a symptom of the difficult economic times,” said Chief Tim Bellamy. “Property crimes are typically crimes of opportunity, and when the economy is bad, people will often start looking for opportunities to get extra money, whether those opportunities are legal or not.” 

Property crimes include burglary, larceny and auto theft. 

The statistics also show an upward trend in the number of property crimes during the reporting period in 2008, increasing from the six-month low of 1,037 in February to 1,202 in March, 1,410 in April, 1,418 in May, and 1,372 in June.

Reported rapes increased from 27 in the first six months of 2007 to 52 so far this year. But Captain Janice Rogers, head of the Criminal Investigations Division, said the increase does not necessarily mean women in Greensboro are in more danger of being sexually assaulted.

“A majority of our sexual assault cases have known assailants,” she said. “A lot of times, a reported sexual assault involves a spouse, a boyfriend and girlfriend, or two people who know each other. So even though the numbers are higher, we have not seen an increase in rapes committed by an unknown assailant. Women are more likely to be the victim of rape at the hands of someone they know than by a stranger. Nonetheless, we encourage women to practice common sense safety measures to help protect themselves from becoming victims.”

Comparison of First Six Months of 2007 with First Six Months of 2008
*Percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth

Total Violent Crimes:
2007: 936
2008: 948
Change: +1.3%

Murder
2007: 12
2008: 11
Change: -8.3%

Rape
2007: 27
2008: 52
Change: +92.6%

Commercial Robbery
2007: 112
2008: 109
Change: -2.7%

Individual Robbery
2007: 320
2008: 326
Change: +1.9%

Aggravated Assault
2007: 465
2008: 450
Change: -3.2%

Total Property Crimes
2007: 7281
2008: 7619
Change: +4.6%

Non-Residential Burglary
2007: 746
2008: 596
Change: -20.1%

Residential Burglary
2007: 1661
2008: 1869
Change: +12.5%

Larceny
2007: 4306
2008: 4662
Change: +8.3%

Auto Theft
2007: 568
2008: 492
Change: -13.4%

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The City of Greensboro works in partnership with the community to build an increased quality of life for all residents by fostering an environment where inclusion, diversity, and trust are valued. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a dedicated professional staff of 2700 employees who maintain four core values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City of Greensboro is governed by a council-manager form of government where a mayor and eight council members act as the legislative body. For more information on the City of Greensboro, please visit us online at www.greensboro-nc.gov.