ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Public Information Office
2003 Mill Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703.838.4636
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 22, 2005 2:00 P.M.
Serious Crime Drops in Alexandria;
Violent Crime Increases While Property Crime Decreases in 2004
The Alexandria Police Department reports that serious crime decreased more than 16% in 2004. Crime dropped in four of seven Part I crime categories. The decrease was predominantly driven by fewer property crimes with violent crime increasing from 2003 to 2004.
Alexandria police reported the following activity under the national and state standard Incident-Based Reporting (IBR):
Part I Crime Statistics (January 1 - December 31)
Offense | 2004 | 2003 | Change |
Homicide | 2 | 4 | -50% |
Rape | 31 | 26 | 19.2% |
Robbery | 187 | 179 | 4.5% |
Aggravated Assault | 213 | 192 | 10.9% |
Burglary | 426 | 497 | -14.3% |
Larceny | 2,937 | 3,754 | -21.8% |
Auto Theft | 635 | 640 | -0.8% |
Total | 4,431 | 5,292 | -16.3% |
Violent crime (homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) increased 8% last year with the largest increase being in rapes and attempted rapes. Of those, all but three were committed by an acquaintance. Two of the three cases involving a stranger were closed by arrest; the third remains under investigation.
Property crime (burglary, larceny and auto theft) decreased 18.3% between 2003 and 2004. The largest decrease occurred among larcenies. Specifically, vehicle-related thefts (larcenies from vehicles and larcenies of vehicle parts) fell 34.5% last year.
Part I crime has decreased in Alexandria for eight of the past nine years, with the only increase occurring in 2001.
Says Chief of Police Charles E. Samarra, "We appreciated the support and commitment of the City Council, the City Manager's Office and the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney. Working together, we continue to improve the quality of life for Alexandrians."
For more information, please contact Mary Garrand of the Crime Analysis Unit at 703.838.6360, ext. 260.
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