Police report drop in felonies, increase in arrests

The Sarasota Police Department release crime statistic numbers Wednesday that reveal city felony crime dropped by 5.2% in 2011 when the numbers are compared to 2010 figures.

The felony crime index used includes murders, forcible sexual offenses, robberies, aggravated assaults, batteries, burglaries, grand larcenies and vehicle thefts.

In 2010, the city had 1,902 felony index crimes, compared to 1,803 felony index crimes in 2011. Those statistics reveal 99 fewer victims of those crimes. The improvement includes 127 fewer burglaries, for a 15% reduction.

The reduced felony levels, the department reports, have continued during the first quarter of 2012, which runs through April 30 of this year. During this time period there have been 548 felony index crimes, compared to 577 felony index crimes in the same quarter a year ago, for a 5% reduction and 29 fewer victims.

The Sarasota Police Department also made 372 more arrests in 2011, for a 9% increase. This increase occurred while arrests in the state declined by 6.6%. In the first four months of 2012, arrests in the city have increased by 14%.

For more information, pick up a copy of Thursday’s May 17 Sarasota Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].