Crime in Chico falls

The Chico Police Department’s recently released “Part I Crimes” statistics for the past six months reveal a significant drop in overall crimes, the lowest level in the city for at least the past nine years.

According to the report, the city saw a 17 percent drop in crimes against property (burglary, larceny and vehicle thefts) from the same six-month period in 2011. Meanwhile, crime against people (homicide rape, robbery and assault) rose slightly, with a 4 percent increase.

Among the notable findings, auto thefts are down by half from last year. Rapes increased significantly (89 percent) from nine reports in the first half of last year to 17 in the first six months of 2012. However, historically speaking, that number is lower than what has been reported in a majority of the past nine years. For example, 22 rapes were reported in the first half of both 2010 and 2009.

Go to www.tinyurl.com/ChicoCrime2012 for more stats.