The property crime rate in Alexandria decreased in 2005, while the violent crime rate remained steady, according to Alexandria Crime Analysis Supervisor Mary Garrand.
Overall, crime fell 9.5 percent from 4,431 incidents in 2004 to 4,008 incidents in 2005, according to the Alexandria Police Department’s annual report. The report was presented to Alexandria City Council at its Tuesday meeting.
Garrand said the violent crime rate remained at 3 incidents per 1,000 residents, while the property crime rate dropped to 26 incidents per 1,000 residents from 30 in 2004. Alexandria’s total 2005 population was 137,700, according to city numbers.
Garrand said one troubling aspect of the report was an increase in robberies, which went up more than 5 percent from 2004-05. Police noticed more robberies were being done by pairs or groups of criminals and said they are working to bring that number down this year.
“Our detectives closed a lot of robbery cases where [these] were people getting together and doing robberies,” she said.
Police made the community aware of the problem and increased patrols and focus in targeted areas.
“It’s a fluid approach,” Garrand said.
She added that the police were pleased with a drop in auto thefts from 635 in 2004 to 513 in 2005, a decrease of nearly 20 percent.
Calls to 911 requesting service were down 6 percent in 2005 to 61,547. But, calls in which weapons were involved increased significantly from 329 in 2004 to 438 in 2005, a 33 percent increase.
Arrest statistics offer a mixed picture. Adult arrest rates remained flat, while the juvenile rate jumped nearly 21 percent, from 201 to 243.
Crime stats
» Prostitution offenses were up 280 percent from five in 2004 to 19 in 2005.
