Email
The Santa Fe Police reported that burglaries in the city for March are down about a third from the same month a year ago.
The department is hailing the March figures as being the lowest residential burglary rate since 2006.
Figures released by police show a decrease from 179 incidents in March 2012 to 119 incidents this year.
 |
||
|
Comparison Burglaries (Residential, Commercial, Auto, Attempted and Unlawful Entry) for Santa Fe January 2012: 166 2013: 155 February 2012: 131 2013: 146 March 2012: 179 2013: 119 Source: Santa Fe Police Department. |
|
| |
Meanwhile, burglaries in January of this year are down by about 11 from 2012 and February’s property crimes increased by about 15 incidents from last year, according to first-quarter statistics released by the department.
The figures include statistics for residential, commercial, automobile and attempted burglaries as well as unlawful entry crimes.
The department credits its ongoing burglary initiative, Operation Full Court Press, as a factor in March’s reduced numbers.
Parts of the program include keeping officers in high-crime areas, prioritizing reports that have the best information, and serving outstanding warrants on people who have a history of property crimes in the city.
“The statistics prove new tactics implemented by the Santa Fe Police Department are working, keeping residents safe and targeting one of the most disturbing and fastest growing crime trends in our area,” Police Chief Ray Rael states in a news release.
The Santa Fe metro area is No. 2 in the country in terms of burglaries per 100,000 residents, according to FBI crime statistics for 2011. This region was first in the nation in 2010, but in the following year it fell behind Pine Bluff, Ark.
The news release states that officers in the crime prevention unit will evaluate neighborhoods or individual homes, looking for safety hazards or vulnerabilities that can be targeted by criminals. Interested people should call 505-428-3710 to arrange such an evaluation.
Reprint story -- Email the reporter at brodgers@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 505-992-6275
