FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Fresno’s Police Chief Jerry Dyer says it’s been a great year in terms of reducing violent crime and property crime.
“We are building an incredible amount of momentum in reducing crime in our city in 2018,” said Chief Dyer during his monthly crime view meeting with the press.
“It’s a significant trend downward when you look at these numbers, violent crime across the board is decreasing this year, “said Dyer. “Homicide is down 44%, rapes down 4%, robberies down 10%, aggravated assaults down 3%, and overall violent crime is down 7%.”
Chief Dyer says they need to keep that momentum going by deploying officers where they need to be, targeting areas plagued with gang violence, making a lot of traffic stops, taking away the anonymity of people armed with firearms looking for their next victim.
They continue to work with community groups to try and make a dent in crime committed by gangs, and rely on tips to bring the perpetrators into custody.
Chief Dyer says the crimes that most often impact residents are property crimes.
During this period, the Chief said the numbers are dropping. Overall burglaries of homes and businesses are down by almost 30%, vehicles broken into are down 22%, and far fewer cars are being stolen. Eight cars were stolen daily, last year, and that number has dropped down to five this year, with 340 fewer car stolen in 2018.
The number of cars being burglarized is dropping in Central Fresno and the Tower district, Chief Dyer said in the last 28 days, there were only 29 vehicle burglaries compared to 68 the month before.
Chief Dyer again reminds people not to store valuables inside their vehicles.
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