U Street: Property Crime Up 16%, Violent Crime Rises Slightly
There were 19 violent crimes in April in Police Service Area 305, which includes most of the U Street corridor. There were 10 robberies and nine assaults; three of the 19 crimes involved a gun. (MPD Crime Database)
From Matty Rhoades
Last month, violent crime rose slightly and property-related crime climbed 16% in Police Service Area (PSA) 305, as compared to April 2010. On a year-over-year (YOY) basis, the total number of crimes in April ncreased by 17% from 2010 to 2011 — from 77 to 90.
YOY increases were seen in assaults, burglaries and thefts from autos. However, the number of robberies and stolen autos declined. PSA 305 includes the U Street NW corridor.
A similar trend of rising property crime was evident in PSA 208 (Dupont) across both March and April. As in PSA 305, there were more assaults but fewer robberies.
Borderstan compares crime statistics on a year-over-year basis by month; this helps account for seasonal differences in crime. All numbers are from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Crime Database.
Specific Crimes in PSA 305
- Robberies were down. There were 10 robberies in PSA 305 in April (two with guns) compared to 14 in April 2010 (four with guns).
- Assaults were up dramatically. There were nine assaults last month (one with a gun), compared to one in April 2010.
- Gun crimes were down. Gun crimes are all crimes committed with guns. There were three last month compared to four in April 2010.
- There were no reported sex abuse crimes last month compared to one in April 2010.
- Burglaries were up in PSA 305. There were five burglaries last month compared to one in April 2010.
- Thefts were unchanged: 19 last month, same as April 2010.
- Thefts from autos (“smash and grabs”) were up in PSA 305. There were 44 last month compared to 34 in April 2010.
- The number of stolen autos was down. There were three last month, compared to seven in April 2010.
Below the fold: A look at April numbers for 2008 through 2011.
PSA 305 Crime Stats for April
Police Service Area 305 |
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| Year | Total Crimes | Violent Crimes | Property Crimes | Gun Crimes | Homicides |
| April 2011 | 90 | 19 | 71 | 3 | 0 |
| April 2010 | 77 | 16 | 61 | 4 | 0 |
| April 2009 | 121 | 29 | 92 | 13 | 0 |
| April 2008 | 66 | 14 | 52 | 5 | 0 |
- Total Crimes are Violent and Property Crimes combined.
- Violent crimes are homicides, sex abuse, robbery excluding gun, robbery with gun, assault with dangerous weapon excluding gun and assault with dangerous weapon with gun.
- Property crimes are burglary, theft, theft from auto, stolen auto and arson.
- Gun Crimes are robberies and assaults committed with a gun. Gun crimes are counted here in Violent Crimes.
- Homicides are counted as part of Violent Crimes and were most likely committed with guns.
- All numbers are from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Crime Database.
