State crime rates down; numbers rise in Broward

Crime rates for the first half of 2017 are down statewide, including in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, but not in Broward County, where there was an uptick in overall crime.

Reported rapes saw a statewide increase compared to the same period in 2016, as did car thefts, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Statewide, there were about 6,300 fewer crimes for a 2 percent decrease in overall crimes.

“The continued reduction in crime, throughout the state of Florida, is a direct result of the coordinated efforts of law enforcement, from the highestranking leadership to our patrol officers and deputies,” said Florida Sheriffs Association President and Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson.

In the first six months of 2017, FDLE reported:

In Broward County, reported crimes totaled 33,293, up from 32,816

In Miami-Dade County, reported crimes totaled 53,938, down from 54,056.

In Palm Beach County, reported crimes totaled 23,804, down from 24,172.

Rape

Reported rapes jumped from 3,769 statewide to 4,073 for an 8 percent increase. That trend held true throughout South Florida.

Rapes rose from 279 to 309 in Broward County. Thirty-seven rapes were reported in Fort Lauderdale, 32 in Pompano

Beach and 27 in Coral Springs.

Rapes went from 406 to 442 in Miami-Dade County. Palm Beach County reported 19 more rapes than last year for a count of 295 compared to 276.

Murder

Broward County saw 51 murders, up from 35. Palm Beach County had 57 murders, up from 34. Fifteen of the murders occurred in West Palm Beach, while there were 14 in the areas patrolled by the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office.

Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County saw murders drop slightly, from 95 to 92.

Robbery

Robberies across the state dropped by nearly 5 percent, with 9,685 falling to 9,244.

There were 15 more robberies in Broward County in the first half of this year for a total of 1,319.

In Miami-Dade County, robberies increased from 406 to 442.

Palm Beach County saw a decrease in robberies, going from 875 to 830.

Aggravated assault

Aggravated assaults in Florida dropped by 1 percent. The figure for the first half of 2016 was 29,423 versus 29,090 for the same time period this year.

Broward County saw 55 more aggravated assaults than last year, rising from 2,146 to 2,201.

Miami-Dade county had 98 more aggravated assaults with a bump from 4,547 to 4,645.

Palm Beach County experienced 192 more aggravated assaults for a total of 2,231 compared to 2,039 last year.

Burglary

There were fewer burglaries across the state, with 48,357 dropping to 44,366, for an 8 percent decrease.

The only crimes that dipped in Broward County were burglaries from 4,349 to 4,189.

Burglaries also dropped in Miami-Dade County going from 5,712 to 5,554.

Palm Beach County saw 929 fewer burglaries with 4,066 plunging down to 3,137.

Larceny

Larceny, which includes purse snatching, shoplifting and other types of theft, dropped by nearly 1.5 percent across the state, going from 201,097 to 198,304.

Larcenies in Broward County jumped from 22,009 to 22,299.

Larcenies fell in Miami-Dade County from 37,015 to 36,658. Palm Beach County saw a slight uptick in larcenies, from 15,297 to 15,449.

Car thefts

Auto thefts saw a statewide surge of nearly 5 percent, with 20,231 stolen vehicles increasing to 21,209.

In Broward County, vehicle thefts jumped from 2,694 to 2,925.

Car thefts in Miami-Dade County catapulted from 4,061 to 4,525.

And Palm Beach County saw a bump from 1,585 to 1,805.