Crime rates drop in Manatee County and statewide - Bradenton Herald

The crime rate in Manatee County dropped 17 percent last year when compared to 2015, according to data in a report released Wednesday.

The 2016 Annual Uniform Crime Report shows statistics for crime reported to and known to law enforcement agencies in the state of Florida for the year. The reports, released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, show the number of reported murders, rapes, robberies, burglaries, aggravated assaults, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts for the state as well as local law enforcement agencies.

In Manatee County, indexed crimes saw a decrease in every category, including three fewer murders, 556 fewer burglaries, 872 fewer larcenies and five fewer motor vehicle thefts in 2016 than the year before.

In a smaller subset, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office saw a 17.5 percent decrease between 2015 and 2016, which included decreases in every category except murder and motor vehicle thefts.

“We try to concentrate on violent offenders and also on the property crimes that occur. So we try to focus our attention on trying to eliminate the potential crimes,” Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said.

There were six more murders handled by the sheriff’s office in 2016 than 2015 and 38 more motor vehicle thefts.

“It’s difficult to predict when a homicide is going to occur unless you receive information. ... So that’s why we work hard on trying to arrest violent offenders we know are out there,” Wells said. “If we can get the probable cause needed to get them off the streets, hopefully we can reduce homicides.”

But for Wells, the overall decrease in crime is a reflection of the hard work by the men and women who work for the sheriff’s office, and he “couldn’t be more pleased.”

“We’re proud of the work deputies do each and every day. They are the backbone of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and they are the reason why crime is down because of the work they do to protect our citizens,” Wells said.

Bradenton Police saw a 15.8 percent decrease in crime rate with decreases in every indexed crime.

Palmetto Police saw a 21 percent decrease. The number of burglaries was cut by more than half, going from 135 in 2015 to 55 in 2016. Reported rapes, however, more than tripled, going from four in 2015 to 13 in 2016.

However, the majority of sexual assaults go unreported. Only 344 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to police, meaning about two out of three go unreported, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).

“We encourage any victim of crime to report it because when that doesn’t occur, that criminal is allowed to continue to commit crime,” Wells said. “Law enforcement and the community have to work hand-in-hand in any community, not just ours.”

Crime rate for the state has dropped 4.4 percent since 2015, a 46-year low, according to a release from Gov. Rick Scott. The state saw a total 18,146 fewer crimes, for a 2.8 percent decrease.

Despite the general decrease in crime, murders in the state increased by 6.5 percent.

The release stated the drop highlights more than $4.9 billion invested in public safety in Fighting for Florida’s Future budget.

Let's block ads! (Why?)