Jenna Bordelon
BURBANK -- Burbank crime took a plunge in 1999, according to a final
FBI report tracking crime in cities across the United States.
Overall crime dropped 11% when compared to incidents reported in 1998,
a larger decrease than reported by close neighbor Glendale.
According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program, a total of
2,813 crimes were recorded in Burbank, down from 3,160 in 1998.
The FBI determined that overall crime in Glendale decreased by 6.6%
overall. Incidents went from 5,346 in 1998 to 4,990 in 1999.
"I think some of it is just a trend," Burbank Police Capt. Larry Koch
said. "The Police Department has a little part in it, but there are also
larger implications."
He gives credit to the three-strikes law and a flourishing economy as
two reasons for the drop.
Aggravated assaults led the way in a 9% increase in violent crimes
that has continued into 2000. From 179 assaults in 1998, the city saw 208
in 1999 and 146 in the first seven months of 2000.
Crimes considered as violent in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program
are murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Police said the rise this year was due to domestic violence reporting
procedures and a greater awareness of physical abuse.
"We want the fewest number of victims," Koch said. "We wished it were
zero."
According to preliminary crime statistics released by the police
department, violent crimes have increased 30% this year from January
through July. Overall crime has already swung back the other way, with a
rise of 11%.
Koch said the trend in violent crime had to change direction
eventually.
"I think this is a relatively safe city," he said. "We respond quickly
when we're called and we investigate aggressively."
Crime fell for the eighth year in a row in 1999, according to the FBI.
Serious crimes were down 7% nationally from 1998 figures. Murder fell 8%
and forcible rape fell 4%. More than 16,000 local law enforcement
agencies reported to the FBI.
CRIME STATISTICS
Uniform Crime Report -- Burbank
Violent Crimes
Murder*Forcible Rape*Robbery*Aggravated Assault
1999*2*8*95*208
1998*4*8*94*179
Property Crimes
Burglary*Larceny-Theft*Vehicle Theft*Arson
1999*362*1,592*548*8
1998*421*1,853*601*4
