MCPD Police press release via Connected Communities:
Montgomery County Department of Police
First Quarter 2008 Crime Statistics
Show Increase in Overall CrimeMontgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger announced today that the crime statistics for the first quarter of 2008 show a 5.0 % increase in total reported crime within Montgomery County. Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) statistics for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period of 2007 indicate:
- Part I Crime increased 14.9% (from 5,355 to 6,154)
- Part II Crime decreased 0.1% (from 10,488 to 10,475)
- Overall, Total Crime (Part I and Part II totals) increased 5.0% (from 15,843 to 16,629)
Part I Crimes Increased by 14.9%:
- Murder: increased by 200% (from 2 to 6)
- Rape: increased by 73.7% (from 19 to 33)
- Robbery: increased by 5.0% (from 238 to 250)
- Aggravated Assault: increased by 33.8% (from 151 to 202)
- Burglary: decreased 1.9% (from 806 to 791)
- Larceny: increased 18.3% (from 3,585 to 4,240)
- Auto Theft: increased by 14.1% (from 554 to 632)
Part II Crimes Decreased by 0.1%:
Part II crimes are defined as minor assaults, arson, forgery-counterfeiting, bad checks, embezzlement, stolen property, vandalism, weapons offenses, prostitution, sex offenses, controlled dangerous substance (CDS) violations, gambling, family offenses, juvenile offenses, liquor law violations, disorderly conduct, suicide, and non-traffic offenses.
The following is a brief analysis of the Part II statistics:
Homicide: When broken down, the percentage increase for murder is high because the number of murders is small, increasing by 4 reports (2 to 6). Therefore, the percentage increase computes larger. Of the six homicides, the suspect and victim were known to each other in two incidents, in three incidents the death was a result of a fight, an assault, and an attempted robbery. In the final incident the suspect(s) and motive remain unknown. Suspects were charged in five of the six homicides.
Rape: The 33 reported rapes are just above the ten-year average of 29 to 30 reports during the first quarter of the year and the 2007 figure was unusually low. Of the reported events, 26 of them involved some relationship (family member, boyfriend, acquaintance) between the victim and the offender.
Robbery: While there was an increase in robberies comparing the first quarter of 2007 to first quarter of 2008, there was a 17.2% decrease in robberies from the 4th quarter of 2007 to the 1st quarter of 2008. Robberies decreased county-wide in January and February. Over 40% of robberies in this period occurred in hours of darkness between 9:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
Aggravated Assault: Of the 202 aggravated assaults reported, 77 or 38% were domestic. Furthermore, approximately 67% of these events involved some relationship between the victim and the assailant.
Burglary: There was a decrease in burglaries across the county during this quarter.
Larceny: Thefts from automobiles continue to occur throughout the county. This is a crime of opportunity. Experience shows that most suspects will walk down a street or through a parking lot trying car doors until they find one unlocked. The department continues to urge residents to always remove valuables their vehicles, and lock their doors at all times.
Auto Theft: According to UCR crime reporting standards, attempted thefts are to be included in the count of completed auto thefts. Approximately 20% of the vehicles targeted for theft were attempted thefts only. Arrests for auto theft have also increased in virtually all the police districts in Montgomery County.
Note: A copy of these crime statistics, as well as, those from previous years are available on the Montgomery County Police website under the Crime Stats link on the Media Services/Press Release page at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/police. Or a copy can be picked up at the Montgomery County Police Headquarters, 2350 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD.