Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: January 24, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shreveport crime marks 26-year low

The City of Shreveport finished 2006 at its lowest crime level in 26 years.

After a historical low in 2005, the crime rate continued to drop in 2006, decreasing another 1 percent.

There were a total of 14,922 Part I crimes in 2006, as compared to 15,094 Part I crimes in 2005. Part I crimes include both violent crime and property crime.

Violent crimes, which include homicides, rapes, robberies, assaults and batteries remained unchanged. Meanwhile, property crimes including burglary, theft and auto theft dropped 1 percent overall.

“There has been no increase in violent crime for the first time since 2000,” said Interim Chief Mike VanSant. “Homicides dropped 33 percent from 2005.”

Also among the violent crimes, rapes dropped 3 percent, robbery dropped 6 percent and aggravated battery dropped 17 percent. Property crimes statistics showed burglary dropped 2 percent, thefts dropped 4 percent, thefts from auto dropped 3 percent. The major increase was in auto theft, which rose 25 percent.

VanSant credits much of the decrease to the leadership of Chief of Police Mike Campbell, whose retirement took effect Jan. 15, and to the entire police force whose dedication to duty made it happen. VanSant’s goal is to push the crime stats even lower in 2007.

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View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews