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City of Greensboro News Releases

Contact: Hope Newkirk
Phone: 336-373-3689

GPD Releases Annual Crime Statistics

GREENSBORO, NC (January 19, 2010) – The Greensboro Police Department (GPD) has released 2010 crime statistics, which show reductions in most categories. Highlights include a reduction in commercial robberies of 36 percent in 2010 compared to 2009 and a drop in individual robberies of 30 percent.

Part 1 offenses fell 11.1 percent, which relates to 1,882 fewer victims of Part 1 crimes in 2010 compared to 2009. Violent crime is also down by 24.4 percent and property crimes declined 9.6 percent. Aggravated assaults were down 16 percent, individual robberies dropped by 30 percent, and residential burglaries were down 8 percent.

Arrests for Part 1 offenses were down 5 percent in 2010, but clearance rates - which are the numbers of cases solved - continue to be above the national average. In fact, clearance rates were 7 percent higher than the national average for violent crimes as well as property crimes. Most notable are the clearance rates for aggravated assaults, which is 75 percent, and larceny, which is 48 percent.

Motor vehicle collisions were down 4.5 percent in 2010 and although fatal accidents were up, 483 fewer collisions were reported in 2010 compared to 2009. The primary contributing factors in the fatalities failure to yield (36 percent) and alcohol use (32 percent) on the part of the driver or pedestrian. Another factor in the increased fatalities is an unfortunate series of collisions on May 9, 2010 on I40 near US 220, which resulted in five of the 25 traffic fatalities.

In an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents, GPD officers used educational programs, enforcement in high accident locations, and special operations such as "Booze It and Loose It" and "Click It or Ticket" to raise awareness, educate the public, and gain compliance. Officers also issued 40,610 traffic citations in 2010.

Throughout 2010, there were a number of strategies implemented to address crime, including:

  • Increasing staffing levels
  • Targeting crime hot spots in a more focused way by using crime analysis
  • Focusing on repeat offenders
  • Participating in first-appearance bond hearings
  • Developing closer relationship with judges, the District attorney and the courts
  • Working closely with partner agencies, such as ATF, US Marshalls, and task force partners
  • Improving communications and interactions with the public through Crime Stoppers, community forums, Community Watch, media releases, public service announcements, and geographic notifications in hot spots.

GPD generates data based on reported offenses during the year. Occasionally crimes are reported in one calendar year, but may actually have occurred in another and occasionally cases are found not to have occurred at all. For that reason, data that was presented in previous years may be slightly different than data generated with the most current information. Police Chief Ken Miller urges the public to use the crime reports as trend indicators rather than specific counts of criminal offenses.

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The City works with the community to improve the quality of life for residents through inclusion, diversity, and trust. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a professional staff of 2,800 employees who maintain the values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City is governed by a council-manager form of government with a mayor and eight council members. For more information on the City, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov or call 373-CITY (2489).