LTC 061-2008 Crime Statistics Annual UCR Part I Crime Reported for 2007OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 061-2008
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LETTER`~1~~' 'I~IM~~~~~N
TO: Mayor Matti H. Bower and Members of the City Commission
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FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~~/
DATE: February 15, 2008
SUBJECT: CRIME STATISTICS ANNUAL UCR PART I CRIMES REPORTED FOR 2007
This Letter to the Commission will serve to inform the Mayor and City Commission of the City of
Miami Beach of the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) statistics for Part I Crimes as indexed annually for
calendar year 2007. Part I Crimes include Homicide, Forcible Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault,
Burglary, Larceny and Motor Vehicle Thefts. During calendar year 2007, the City of Miami Beach
experienced a slight increase of 2.1 % in total Part I UCR crimes compared to 2006. This increase is
primarily attributed to a 4.7% increase in larcenies which include incidents of beach thefts, pocket
picking, vehicle burglaries, and shoplifting. Despite this increase in total Part I UCR crimes, there was
a remarkable decrease of 4% in violent crimes. Additionally, five of the seven Part I crime categories
tracked for UCR purposes either decreased or in one area, Homicide, showed no change. The chart
below details the Part I UCR 2006 vs. 2007 comparison:
Type of Crime 2006 2007 Percent Difference from
2006
Homicide 4 4 No Chan e
Rae 81 58 -28.4%
Robbe 432 448 +3.7%
A ravated Assaults 598 562 -6.0%
Total Violent Crime 1,115 1,072 -4%
Bur laries 1,372 1,354 -1.3%
Larcenies 5,357 5,607 +4.7%
Auto Thefts 853 844 -1.05%
Total Pro ert Crime 7,582 7,805 +3%
Total Part I UCR Crimes 8,697 8,877 +2.1%
The 2.1 % increase in total Part I UCR crime is minimal and, more importantly, the 4% decrease in the
City's violent crimes is significant when compared to other major local municipal jurisdictions with
increases that ranged from 3.65 -13.26% (total Part I UCR crimes) and .9 - 20.1 % (Violent Crimes).
Unincorporated Miami-Dade County alone realized increases in both total Part I Crimes and Violent
Crimes of 9% and 13% respectively as listed in the chart below. These increases in crime by
neighboring cities reflect a nationwide trend for an increase in Part I UCR crimes in 2007.
LOCaI Police Aaencv Crime Cmm~arisnn 9nna to 9M7
City or County 2006 Total
UCR Parf I
Crimes 2007 Total
UCR Part 1
Crimes Percenf
Change 2006
Violent
Crimes 2007
Violent
Crimes Percent
Change
Coral Gables 2,246 2,328 +3.65% 118 132 +11.86%
Hialeah 9,937 10,820 +8.g% 1,263 1,274 +.g%
Miami 26,219 27,303 +4% 5,931 6,120 +3%
Miami Beach 8,697 8,877 +2.1 % 1,115 1,072 -4%
Miami Dade
Count 56,133 61, 223 +9 % 3, 286 3, 716 + 13
Miami Gardens 7, 793 8, 291 +6.4 % 662 735 + 11
North Miami 4,305 4,876 +13.26% 652 783 +20.1
North Miami
Beach 2,635 2, 757 +4.6% 419 465 +11
Contributing to the decline of violent crime in the City of Miami Beach is an unprecedented 8.5%
increase of 14,954 total MBPD arrests in 2007. These arrests accounted for a marked increase in
case closures. Of note is the dramatic decline of 28.4% in Rapes which includes all attempted and
committed sexual batteries. It is perceived this decrease is a result of Criminal Investigations Unit
Detectives participating in the Sexual Offender Apprehension Program and the ongoing community
outreach provided by the Domestic Violence Unit.
In addition, the following proactive types of crime prevention initiatives were implemented during the
year:
• From July 8 to July 29, the MBPD implemented the All Crimes Task Force (ACT) to address
all criminal activity utilizing dedicated personnel during peak hours in areas of the City known
for criminal activity. This initiative reduced overall crime as well as provided intelligence on
criminal activity to prevent future crimes. As a result of this crime prevention initiative, 41
felony and 161 misdemeanor arrests were made with an 8% drop in crime during the month
of July 2007 as compared to July 2006;
• Effective utilization of the overlap shift, deploying officers to hotspots and to target crime
trends as well as enforcing quality of life violations. This Overlap period occurs three times
each day utilizing the first hour of each shift;
• Another successful initiative was the Fall Crime Blitz that spanned intermittently from October
28 through December 30. This initiative combined overtime details and on-duty resources
throughout the Department to address public safety issues City-wide. The primary goal was
to reduce crime in the residential areas, enforce traffic violations, and provide high visibility
patrol. This initiative resulted in 403 misdemeanor arrests, 84 felony arrests, 68 traffic
arrests, as well other significant enforcement statistics (i.e. traffic citations);
• In an effort to increase visibility as well as positive interactions in the community, police
officers and public safety specialists made in excess of 51,000 community contacts. These
contacts have provided an additional forum to identify crime and safety issues while
increasing interactions with residents and business owners;
• In addition to a record setting number of arrests, several significant high profile
apprehensions were made that include: an armed serial bank robber responsible for
committing several bank robberies in the City, an armed robber who committed several
robberies of Miami Beach tourists and residents, and the arrest of a subject who was
responsible for 52 burglaries.
During the 2007 Calendar year, the MBPD a ears to have met the Key Intended Outcome of
maintaining crime rates at or below national trends and as a result making the City a safer place to
live. In 2008, the MBPD stands ready to commit the resources necessary to proactively prevent crime
by implementing appropriate crime fighting strategies. This will involve effectively deploying both
patrol and investigative personnel at peak times to affected areas based on timely intelligence
information provided by our criminal analysts and other reliable sources. These interventions
combined with quarterly Crime Solutions meetings to identify crime trends with an emphasis on
accountability, should have a significant impact and reduce crime. Some of the programs that are
being initiated target career criminals prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law. The MBPD will
remain committed to participate in task forces targeting violent crime such as Miami Dade Police
Department's Robbery Intervention Detail, US Marshall's Office Fugitive Task Force and the South
Florida Money Laundering Strike Force. Finally, we will continue with our community outreach
initiat'~es to forge partnerships and educate/work with residents, business owners and visitors.
JMG/CN/F2~M/M~ A~'
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