Dupont: Property Crime on the Rise, 30% Increase over 2010

From Matty Rhoades

Two weeks ago, we looked at D.C.’s crime stats for the first six months of 2011,  as compared to the first six months of 2010.

Big picture: the numbers for the entire city are mixed across the January through June period. While property crime has risen by 8%, violent crime has decreased by 7%. That said, because property crimes constitute a vast majority of all crimes, the total crime rate was up by 4% on a year-over-year (YOY) basis. (See what the three-year trend for D.C. crime shows — the news is good.)

Citywide vs. Dupont: January through June
How does 2011 compare to 2010 for the first six months of the year?
District of Columbia: Property crime up 8%, violent crime down 7% — resulting in a 4% total crime increase.
PSA 208/Dupont-Kalorama: Property crime up 30%, violent crime down 3% — resulting in a 25% total crime increase.

Let’s take a closer look at  the Dupont, Logan and U Street areas; PSA 208 covers the Dupont and Kalorama areas.

Overall, as compared to 2010, crime rose 25% in PSA 208. The prevalance of property crime (up 30%) overshadowed the decline in violent crime (3%).  All numbers are taken from the MPD Crime Database. See the chart below for specific D.C. crime numbers for the January-June period.

U Street and Logan neighbors: Look for a post later this week when we will cover six-month stats for those areas.

A Closer Look: What Do the Statistics Mean?

Dupont Property Crime Rose 30%: There were increases in three of the five types of property crimes: burglaries rose 108%, thefts increased 5% and thefts from autos rose 74%. However, there were 29% fewer stolen autos in the first six months of 2011 compared to the previous year.

Dupont Violent Crime Down 3%: In PSA 208, the only type of violent crime that showed an increase over 2010 was assault with a dangerous weapon (no gun), up 59%. Robberies (both with and without a gun) were down 21% from the first six months of 2010. Similarly, gun crime (robberies and assaults with guns)  decreased 40% for the first half of 2011 over 2010.

Total Crime Up 25%. On a year-over-year (YOY) basis, total crime in PSA 208 has risen 25% for the first six months of 2011 compared to the same period of last year.

3-Year Trend: 2008 to 2011

What does the three-year trend for the January through June period in PSA 208 show (2008-2011)?

• Violent crime declined 8%.
• Property crime increased 6%.
• Total crime — property and violent crime combined — rose 4%.
• The number of robberies (with and without a gun) has declined 21% since 2008. 
• Assault with a Dangerous Weapon has increased by 23% since 2008.
• Gun crime — robberies and assaults involving guns — has declined 20% since 2008 for the January-June period.

Crime in Police Service Area 208: January 1 through June 30
Crime Type	2008	2009	2010	2011	% Change 2010 to 2011	% Change 2008 to 2011
Homicide	1	0	0	0	No change	Down 100%
Sex Abuse	1	1	2	2	No change	Up 100%
Robbery without Gun	77	64	73	60	Down 18%	Down 22%
Robbery with Gun	12	24	18	10	Down 44%	Down 16%
Assault with Dangerous Weapon (no gun)	36	32	29	46	Up 59%	Up 28%
Assault with Dangerous Weapon (with gun)	3	2	2	2	No change	Down 33%
Total Violent Crime	130	123	124	120	Down 3%	Down 8%
Burglary	83	79	51	106	Up 108%	Up 28%
Theft	453	487	440	462	Up 5%	Up 2%
Theft from Auto	362	371	231	403	Up 74%	Up 11%
Stolen Auto	60	48	56	40	Down 29%	Down 33%
Arson	0	0	0	0	No change	No change%
Total Property Crime	958	985	778	1,011	Up 30%	Up 6%
TOTAL CRIME	1,088	1,108	902	1,131	Up 25%	Up 4%