Pubdate: Sat, 22 Apr 2006 Source: Pantagraph, The (IL) Copyright: 2006 The Pantagraph Contact: http://www.pantagraph.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/643 Author: Greg Cima Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) CRIME DATA FOLLOW CITY GROWTH BLOOMINGTON - Reports of violent crime rose 12 percent last year in Bloomington, with higher numbers coming from the city's growing southern corners. At the same time, property crime reports, while also up in those areas, were down about 3 percent citywide. The Bloomington Police Department has released raw data tallying different criminal offenses across the city's seven police "beats," or geographic sections of the city. The Pantagraph selected eight violent crime categories and six property crime categories in looking at where crime is highest and where it has increased. Working with raw data The statistics show the number of reports, but not necessarily the actual number of crimes. Selected violent crime categories are assault; battery; homicide and attempted homicide; intimidation; kidnapping; robbery; sexual assault; and other sex offenses. Selected property crime categories are arson; burglary; burglary and theft from a vehicle; damage and trespassing to property; theft of a vehicle; and general theft. Bloomington crime analyst Carl Fever cautioned the raw data may not be a true indicator of how much crime is going on in an area, noting one incident can result in multiple crimes tallied in the report. And police department officials, responding to a series of Pantagraph questions, said the murder rate has been stable in the last five years, forcible rape reports fell from 2004 to 2005, and the overall crime rate has been relatively stable over the last five years. But drug addiction "-particularly involving heroin - has helped fuel an increase in robberies since 2002. The department said burglaries and thefts also have increased with the rise in drug addiction. But crime statistics also tend to increase with population growth, according to the BPD. "As Bloomington continues to grow in population, there is no reason to believe that crime will go down," the department said. "More people always means more demand for police services." Property crime While property crime reports were highest in the area northeast of downtown in 2004, that area fell to third-highest in 2005 as reports dropped 28 percent. Department officials said residents in the area have been more active in neighborhood watch programs, which reduce criminal activity. In the city's southwest corner, there was a 19 percent increase in violent crime reports from 2004 to 2005, and a 9 percent increase in property crime reports. Alderman Michael Matejka, whose ward is in that area, said officers are trying to be vigilant, adding crime is cyclical, and the statistics will change yearly. "Any increase in crime is not good, and certainly requires additional vigilance," Matejka said. "And I think where we've had the most success in stopping crime - or in curtailing crime might be the better way to put it - is where we have active neighborhood associations and active crime watch groups." Matejka said the increase in reported crime also may be a sign people are more watchful and more willing to call police about criminal activity. In the downtown area, crime appears to have increased dramatically, but police said the difference is at least partly related to a change in hown;crimes were reported in that patrol area. For example, crimes reported at police headquarters, which is located downtown, often are recorded in the downtown beat instead of the location where they occurred. Southeast corner The city's southeast corner had next to fewest violent and property crimes in both 2004 and 2005, but still saw 30 percent more property crime and 20 percent more violent crime reports in 2005, according to statistics. Police officials said domestic crimes increased in the mostly residential area. "The high number of domestic reports has driven up crime reports all over the city," the department said. "The BPD receives grant money for the investigation of domestic violence cases, and therefore tracking this category of crime has become better." There also were numerous incidents in the areas of the Arbors at Eastland apartment complex, including three sexual assault cases in which a 14-year-old boy was recently imprisoned. Citywide, sexual assault reports dropped from 65 to 58, while arrests increased from 14 to 17. Robberies/assaults In 2005, Bloomington had the same number of arrests for robberies as in the previous three years combined. But the total number of robberies actually dropped by only one from 2004 to 2005. The department said in 2005, officers arrested several robbers from the previous year. And the increase in arrests is coupled with a trend of more robberies involving multiple robbers. Arrests for aggravated assaults and batteries jumped from 142 in 2004 - - a four-year low - to 218 in 2005. That coincided with a 26 percent increase in such crimes. Burglaries were up about 9 percent in 2005, and the number of burglary arrests nearly matched the number in 2003 and 2004 combined. The number of marijuana arrests jumped about 27 percent, while other controlled substances arrests dropped by about the same percentage. User Comments On This Story: Note: All views and opinions expressed in user comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of The Pantagraph or its staff. I hate cops wrote on April 23, 2006 2:23 AM:"Odd the highest jump is marijuana arrest, not finding those who induce in aggravated assaults and batteries. Possession of marijuana, which is normally the bulk of these cases, is treated as a malicious act against humanity. I'm happy knowing we spend more arresting peddling potheads and not rapist and real humanitarian destructors." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman