Despite 2008 being a year of deep recession, crime in south Snohomish and North King county cities dropped in most categories from the previous year, according to statistics collected and reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Lynnwood, which has the most crime per capita of the region’s cities, saw a slight increase in violent crime but a significant decrease in property crimes.
Violent crime went up to 146 incidents in 2008 from 131 in 2007, with most of the increase attributed to aggravated assaults.
But property crime tailed off drastically, going from 2,873 incidents in 2007 to 2,293 incidents in 2008. The biggest decrease came in the auto theft category: 431 vehicles were reported stolen in 2007 compared to 186 in 2008.
The Auto Theft Task Force in Snohomish County that targets repeat offenders and increased sentences for auto theft has helped bring the number of thefts down.
In Mountlake Terrace, violent crimes increased slightly to 40 in 2008 from 31 in 2007, but property crimes dropped to 555 in 2007 from 690 in 2008. Reported auto thefts dropped from 111 in 2007 to 56 in 2008, a fact that points to more specific attention to repeat offenders and stronger sentences, Mountlake Terrace police chief Greg Wilson said.
In Shoreline, violent crimes dropped to 97 in 2008 from 121 in 2007. Property crime held steady, down to 1,673 in 2008 from 1,679 in 2007. Auto theft, for example, dropped from 201 thefts in 2007 to 180 in 2008.
The Shoreline police have participated in auto theft and burglary initiatives with the King County Sheriff’s Office during the last year to better track repeat offenders, Shoreline Police Chief Dan Pingrey said.
Better communication between contract cities and the Sheriff’s Office leads to more crimes being linked together resulting in higher bail amounts and longer jail stays for offenders.
“If they’re in custody they have less of an impact on our neighborhoods,” Pingrey said. “A judge sees the entire impact. They’re held longer and that helps reduce the crime that they’re committing in Shoreline and Seattle.”
Burglaries and robberies were up for awhile as the recession deepened last and earlier this year but those crimes have slowly declined over this past year, Pingrey said.
In Mill Creek, violent crimes were up a bit to 25 in 2008 from 22 in 2007, but property crimes dipped to 464 in 2008 from 573 in 2007.
In Lake Forest Park, violent crime went up from three incidents in 2007 to 11 in 2008, most of increase attributed to more aggravated assaults. Property crime increased slightly to 275 incidents in 2008 from 253 incidents in 2007. Larceny and theft was the chief culprit.
Crime held steady in Edmonds with 63 violent crimes reported in 2008 compared to 60 in 2007. Reported property crime decreased slightly from 985 in 2008 to 964 in 2007.
Brier police reported four violent crimes in 2008, down from five in 2007 while property crime dropped to 93 from 104 in 2007.
Woodway reported no violent crime in 2008 after having one robbery in 2007. Property crime dropped to 24 incidents from 40 in 2007.
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