LTC 084-2011 2010 Annual Part I Uniform MIAMI BEACH a
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
No: LT # os 4 -2o� LETTER TO CClPSII 1 '
i t I� OFF ICS
TO: Mayor Matti Bower and Members of the'City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: April 11, 2011
SUBJECT: 2010 ANNUAL PART I UNIFORM C ME REPORT
The purpose of this Letter to the Commission (LTC) is to inform the Mayor and City Commission of
.the Uniform Crime. Report (UCR) statistics for Part I Crimes as indexed annually, for calendar year
2010. Part I Crimes include Homicide, Forcible Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary,
Larceny and Motor Vehicle Theft.
Calendar year 2010 also produced one of the busiest, and most challenging years that the City of
Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) has experienced in recent history. This was primarily due
to the ever increasing popularity of Miami Beach as a destination of choice for local, national, and
international visitors, as well as a tremendous . influx of people for special events including Pro - Bowl,
Super Bowl, Spring Break, and Memorial Day Weekend just to name a few. The record number of
tourists and visitors to our City and increase in those numbers from 2009 to 2010 is supported by the
City of Miami Beach resort revenue.
That being said, MBPD's efforts have made this community safer, as 2010 concludes the fourth,
consecutive year where there has been a decrease in violent crime and produced the lowest violent.
crime number since 2000. Moreover, the 4.64% decline in violent crime statistics (homicide, .rape,
robbery, and aggravated assault) which sets the tone for making' the :City of Miami Beach a safe
community, and continues to support the efforts which, drive public perception as reflected in the
2009-Community Satisfaction Survey, where 83.9% of respondents rating Police either excellent or
good.
Clearly, the most striking positive crime statistics are the significant decrease of 16.39 % in robberies
and 4.88% decrease in rapes. This decline can be attributed to the proactive efforts by the Robbery
Squad targeting career criminals along with investigative support from Miami. Dade Police
Department's Robbery Intervention detail, United. States Marshalls Office and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation leading 'to high profile arrests which had a dramatic effect on the number of robberies
committed on Miami Beach. On the other hand, the decrease in the number of rapes is due
primarily to effective outreach by MBPD personnel during Spring Break in the entertainment district.
This, intervention included a MBPD /Nightlife Symposium, date rape prevention, and general crime
prevention efforts.
Despite the fact that 4 of the 7 Part I Crime categories decreased in 2010, the City of Miami Beach
experienced a 2.8 increase in total Part I .Crimes reported as compared to 2009. The driver for
this slight increase in total Part I Crimes is primarily attributed once again to a significant rise in
larcenies, which are petty property crimes; such as shoplifting.
Even with several proactive.enforcement initiatives and 1,780 larceny arrests preventing this type of
crime continues to be challenging. Two specific types of' crimes that contribute to the increased rate
in larcenies are an increase with petty thefts, especially those related to larcenies, that occur in the
vicinity of pools and beach areas where tourists leave property unattended; and the increased
number of retail thefts. associated with the opening of several new businesses such as CVS,
LTC re:. 2010 Annual Part I UCR
April 11, 2011
;Page 2 of 3
- .Walgreens, multiple hotels, new parking lots and many other venues across the City. '
The chart below depicts Part'l UCR category comparisons between calendar year 2009 and 2010,
as well as the percentage differences between both years:
r
Type of Crime 2009 2010 % Difference from 2009 % Difference from 2000
t' Homicide 7 8 14.29% +33%
Rape 41 39 4.88% -36%
Robbery 421 352 - 16.39 - 35.17%
Aggravated Assault 437 465 .6.41% - 34.78%
Total Violent Crime 906 864 -4.64%. 34.69%
Burglary 1 1,192 - 1.24% - 28.57%
Larceny 6,567- 6,957 5.94% - 13.86%
Motor Vehicle Theft 665 594' - 1.0.68% - 55."13%
Total Property Crime. 1 8,439 1 8,743 1 3.60% - 21.02%
Total Part I UCR Crimes 9,345 9,607 2.80% - 22.48%
Upon review .and analysis of UCR Part I Crimes for the last ten (10) years, it is evident the MBPD's
approach to public safety has yielded positive results for our community. It is evident that violent
crimes (homicides, rapes, 'robberies, and aggravated assaults) as a whole have substantially
declined, primarily due to the strategies implemented by MBPD. In fact, the City's crime rate is
lower today than it has been through most of the years since 2000.
Although overall crime has increased slightly over the last four years, the increase has been
... primarily to the rising numbers .of larceny crimes. For the most part, larceny crimes are
crimes of opportunity, associated with a variety of societal factors including a struggling economy,
the continued popularity of Miami - Beach with increased visitors creating "a target rich environment ",
and countless special events creating more "opportunities for victimization.
Below is a chart'that depicts the UCR crime report comparisons from 2000 through. 2010:
Uniform Crime Report Comaprison Since 2000
140C•0
12393
12000 1-1-2 - — — — -- —_;
103 °0 10610 10411
11070 S-
10000 3817 @5- -x.345
9:1 91 04 _
9DO0 -- - - - -- -- -$439
8121 8215
7.9 .905
a
4000
2306 132 1242 1�}r� x.177. 1247 117.=1 1115 1072 C?43r 9(l6 Stn4
0
2030 2001 2002 2003 2004 2035 2006 2007 2708 '039 2010
— UCRViOlenl CrillWS --41---UCR Non -Vii lent Crinwe; UCRCrir Total
LTC re: 2010 Annual Part I UCR
April 11, 2011
Page 3 of 3
In keeping with our commitment toward making the City of Miami Beach a safer place to live, work
and play and visit, the following are highlights of some of the proactive crime prevention initiatives
and noteworthy case investigations by the MBPD during calendar year 2010:
Patrol Division
• During the month of March, "Operation Orthos" was implemented which involved an anti
gang sweep and crime deterrent initiative focusing ,on Washington Avenue in the evening
hours led to the 45 felony, 38 misdemeanor arrests and the recovery of 10 firearms.
• In an effort .to prevent.thefts occurring on the beach during_ the month of. May, the Midnight
"Shift implemented a proactive detail involving the deployment of uniform and. plainclothes
officers resulting in 25 arrests.
• In the Month of September, the Afternoon Shift conducted a Citywide traffic enforcement
detail that led --to 965 hazardous moving citations and 35 arrests.
During the month of October, the Patrol Theft. Task Force initiative resulted in 122 felony, 605
misdemeanor, 56 warrant and 28 traffic arrests in addition to 230 hazardous moving
violations.
Enhanced Holiday operations during the month of December led to 25 arrests, 235
hazardous moving citations, 22 field interview cards, and 16. parking citations.
C_ riminal Investigations Division
•
All 2010 homicide cases have either been cleared. by arrest or exceptionally cleared.
• Economic crimes- investigators dismantled an international multi - million dollar credit card
fraud ring. The investigation led to the forfeiture of $12,000 and the arrest and prosecution of
several involved subjects.
• Auto Crimes Detectives conducted proactive investigative operation utilized seized vehicles
. and deploying GPS tracking system. This investigation resulted in the apprehension of the
subjects and the recovery and return of ,the $135,000 of stolen property.
• The Robbery Squad arrested several armed robbery subjects responsible for a brutal beating
of tourists in their hotel room.
• Special Investigations Unit Detectives confiscated 1,330 grams of cocaine, 5,834 grams of
marijuana, 270 grams of ecstasy, 922 grams of steroids. These investigations led to the
arrest of 332 subjects, seizure of 11 vehicles and $142,560.
The MBPD will continue to proactively fight crime in 2011, by effectively utilizing all available,
resources,..and deploying them at peak times and locations known for criminal activity. Emphasis
will be placed on directing police officers to specific areas, based on timely crime analysis
information as well as focusing on anticipating criminal behavior associated with major events and
other activities taking place in the City: The MBPD will seek innovative technology by enhancing
crime scene processing, accessing criminal databases with the local /state / federal agencies, etc.
Going forward there will be a concerted effort to apply more crime prevention interventions through
environmental design to crime solving, with our Neighborhood Resource Officers through security
surveys of business's and residents. Proving very effective in terms of criminal apprehension will_ be
the participation in the various Federal, State and local Task Forces which has become a formidable
force multiplier gaining access to agencies with greater resources than the MBPD. There will also
be a continued commitment to maintaining. and developing homeowner. and business associations
utilizing them as a forum for crime prevention and continuing partnership with the community. In
conclusion, more will continue to be done to combat crime in our City, although the Police
Department has done much with fewer resources to keep our residents.and visitors safe.;
Please contact me if you have any additional questions.
JMG:CN :RAM:MG:tr f