Violent crime down, property crime up in Durham
Overall violent crime decreased slightly in Durham in 2013 as property crimes increased marginally, according to the Durham Police Department's annual report, which was released Thursday.
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Homicide detectives worked 30 cases last year, 9 more than in 2012. Reported rapes rose by 40 percent, but the department said the increase was due to a change in FBI reporting standards.
Aggravated assaults decreased 12 percent while robberies fell 2 percent to 607, a 23 year low, the department said.
Burglaries increased by 2 percent while larcenies were up 8 percent and vehicle thefts rose 4 percent. The majority of property crimes were from shoplifting and vehicles – each making up 26 percent of all property crimes.
While Durham police’s clearance rates for violent and property crimes were above the FBI’s, the department's homicide clearance rate dropped from 90.5 percent in 2012 to 60 percent in 2013 – the biggest drop among the agency’s clearance rates.
The department continues to see success with Operation Bull’s Eye. The effort, started in 2007, focuses on a 2 square mile area in East Durham that accounted for nearly 20 percent of the city’s violent gun crime, sound of shots fired calls and validated gang members.
To date, the effort has led to:
- Prostitution calls down by 61 percent
Durham police also dealt with a number of high profile incidents in 2013, including the death of Jesus "Chuy" Huerta, 17, in November while in police custody and the mistaken arrest of a N.C. Central University student.
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