Burglaries, larcenies down on Longboat Key

Longboat Key Police Chief Al Hogle hasn’t gotten the call yet from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), but he expects it any day. It comes shortly after he releases Longboat Key’s crime statistics to an official, who needs to verify that the island’s crime rates really are so low.

The statistics for the first six months of 2011 are low — as usual. Burglaries dropped by 53% from 13 during the first six months of 2010 to six for the same period in 2011. Total larceny was also down, from 47 reported offences between January and June 2010 to 31 for the same six months in 2011.

Hogle was hesitant to attribute the drop in property crime to any one factor. He also cautioned that the island’s low crime numbers make it difficult to draw conclusions based on one reporting period.

“We’re trying to provide more routine patrol, especially to areas that are not located behind the gates,” Hogle said. “The officers are working very hard to be very diligent.”

According to Hogle, patrol officers often park their cars in visible areas while they do routine tasks, such as completing reports, so that their presence can act as a deterrent.

Hogle hopes that residents are getting the message to take basic precautions, such as locking home and vehicle doors. He also confirmed that he is still working on a report for the Longboat Key Town Commission on license-plate cameras, which would snap a picture of vehicles entering the island, which he believes could further decrease crime on the Key.

“I think it would be a terrific product for the community,” Hogle said.

Click here to view a graphic of offenses reported to Longboat Key police.

Click here to view a graphic of property crimes reported in the first six months of 2011.