Crime Decline in Denver 11.4%

Crime in Denver has gone down 11.4 percent through July of this year, compared with last year.

Friday, Denver police released statistics showing decreases in every crime category for the first seven months of 2007, compared with the same period in 2006.

Major crimes against persons and property dropped 13.3 percent overall, while lesser offenses dipped 7.7 percent.

The biggest drop was in property crime (burglary, theft from motor vehicles, auto theft and arson), at 13.4 percent.

"Sometimes, when you arrest one burglar, it affects the rate because he is a serial burglar," said Sonny Jackson, spokesman for the Denver police department.

That was followed by a 13.1 percent decrease in the category of "all other crimes," which includes weapon offenses and stolen property.

Progress was also made in violent crimes against persons, such as homicide, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault, which came down by 12.9 percent.

"The first of the year, homicide was up but since then, we're keeping a pretty good handle on it," Jackson said.

Other trends include:

• 8.3 percent decrease in drug and alcohol offenses.

• 8 percent drop in other assaults, sex offenses and offenses against family and children.

• 6.7 percent dip in public disorder crimes.

• 5.2 percent in white collar crimes.

Rocky Mountain News