Analyses show decrease in Houston's crime rate

HOUSTON – Crime statistics released by Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland show Houston's overall crime rate is down nearly eight percent under their leadership.
The numbers are based on a comparison of a Uniform Crime Reports for the three years before and after the start of 2010. There were declines noted in each of the seven categories of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft and auto theft.


Here is a look at the numbers for 2007-2009:
Murder: 940
Rape: 2,267
Robbery: 33,449
Aggravated Assault: 38,290
Burglary: 85,270
Theft: 220,473
Auto Theft: 49,275
Total: 429,964

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Here are the numbers from 2010-2012:
Murder: 684
Rape: 2,148
Robbery: 26,888
Aggravated Assault: 35,273
Burglary: 82,013
Theft: 211,155
Auto Theft: 38,167
Total: 396,328


"These numbers provide a clearer indication of overall crime trends in Houston than the usual one-year snapshot or the nightly news," said Parker. "I believe there are contributing factors including the commitment of our hard-working men and women in blue, greater citizen awareness that is the result of the global cyber village in which we live today and an improving local economy."

"Fighting crime is a team approach between citizens in our community and the police. I want to thank the men and women of HPD, from every rank - patrol officers to investigators to commanders to my command staff," said McClelland. "Their outstanding efforts each and every day have met and exceeded my expectations in making this one of the safest cities in America."

According to the report, in 2011 the local murder rate dropped to its lowest point in more than four decades.