Our major crime statistics for the first six months of 2017 show an 18.2 percent drop in violent crime while property crimes were almost flat (actual increase of 0.2 percent) when compared to the first six months of 2016. Total crime in the city is down 3.6 percent over the same period last year.
The violent crime decrease is spurred by a 12.5 percent drop in robberies (49 this year compared to 56 last year); and a 22.8 percent drop in aggravated assault and battery (228 vs. 176). Impressive decreases were also seen in the property crime categories of burglaries (down 9.7 percent) and arsons (down 23.1 percent.). There were 187 burglaries in the first half of 2017 compared to 207 over the same time last year; and 10 arsons this year compared to 13 last year.
Major crime pertains to the violent crimes of murder, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault and battery; and the property crimes of burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. There were 257 violent crimes and 1231 property crimes in the first six months of this year; compared to 314 and 1229 last year.
Criminal sexual assault and thefts were flat when comparing the first six months of 2017 to 2016 (28 criminal sexual assaults and 946 thefts.) Motor vehicle thefts were up 39.7 percent the first six months of this year from 63 to 88. The vast majority of these thefts are crimes of opportunity and are committed when vehicles are left running unattended and/or when they are not locked and keys are left inside.
The number one priority of the Aurora Police in the first six months of this year continues to be fighting a rise in shootings.
In the first six months of 2017, there were 67 shootings compared to 47 over the same period last year. This 42.6 percent increase has resulted in four murders (compared to two last year) and 21 injuries (compared to 11 last year). Arrests for illegally-owned or possessed guns are also way up— by 47.9 percent— as are total firearms taken in, a 22.9 percent jump. 71 people have been charged with unlawful use of weapons in the first 6 months of 2017 compared to 48 in 2016. Aurora Police have taken in 118 firearms this year as compared to 96 last year.
The jump in shootings and illegally possessed gun activity, which is also being seen in many of the larger towns across the state, is due mostly to an increase in gang crimes and those being perpetuated over social media. The vast majority of shootings are not random and in many instances, even the shooting victims do not cooperate in the investigations.
All divisions of the Aurora Police Department continue to gather intelligence and monitor activities of those criminals known to be responsible for gang violence and the locations at which they are known to frequent. We also continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the county, state and federal levels. Of course, we also depend on the citizens we serve to call 911 when they observe any suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.
As far as trends are concerned, total crime is down 24.1 percent when comparing the first six months of 2012 to 2017; thirty nine-percent for the years 2007 to 2017 and 49.7 percent for the first six months of 2017 compared to the same period in 1997.
Finally, there have been 8.5 percent fewer traffic crashes in the first six months of this year: 2909 compared to 3180 in the first six months of 2016. Fatality crashes are also down from five to three.
