Q: Can you give a run down of present crime traits in St. Johns County?
A: I feel it’s vital for our residents to know that this isn’t a crime-free space. Most of our largest will increase are within the non-violent classes, together with some, like housebreaking from a motorized vehicle, that are largely preventable (lock your automobile doorways!)
A caveat to the numbers I’m going to share is that about two years in the past, we modified reporting methods that we use to report back to the federal authorities from UCR (Uniform Crime Report) to NIBRS (National Incident Based Reporting System), which is extra incident-based. This yr can be our first full yr utilizing this new reporting system and everybody, together with the FBI, anticipated a rise in crime reporting knowledge as a result of change.
Q: What classes noticed the biggest will increase?
A: The important will increase weren’t in violent crime, however in property crime. Shoplifting, for instance, elevated by 86 p.c (from 209 instances final yr to 390 yr up to now this yr). A giant cause for that’s that we almost doubled our retail property with the addition of the Durbin Pavilion heart in addition to Costco, Home Depot and Buc-ee’s. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is working with these companies to fight shoplifting by using undercover operations in addition to bike and foot patrols. Also, we’re working with the State Attorney’s Office to make sure correct fees are utilized, particularly within the case of repeat offenders. Additionally, our Real Time Intelligence Center is utilizing the most recent expertise to help in fixing these crimes.
Other classes with will increase have been General Theft (a catchall class of theft that doesn’t embrace shoplifting or development theft) with a rise of 35 p.c. Construction web site theft additionally elevated 35 p.c, from 20 instances in 2021 to 27 instances in 2022. Commercial housebreaking elevated from 25 instances in 2021 to 44 instances in 2022.
Q: What have been the statistics for violent crimes?
A: Fortunately our numbers are low right here, however we nonetheless sadly had will increase. Aggravated assault, which is the intention of doing bodily hurt with a weapon, however not truly doing it, was up from 44 instances in 2021 to 64 instances in 2022 (45 p.c). Sex crimes, which embrace lewd and lascivious and sexual assault, was up from 28 instances final yr to 40 instances this yr. And, monitoring with the nationwide common, battery on a legislation enforcement officer was up 40 p.c, from 22 instances in 2021 to 31 instances in 2022.
Q: What concerning the “mostly preventable” crimes that you just talked about?
A: With the brand new NIBRS reporting, we now name this housebreaking of a motorized vehicle, and it’s up 14 p.c, from 223 instances in 2021 to 256 instances in 2022. We’ve mentioned this earlier than — greater than 90 p.c of those instances are objects stolen from unlocked automobiles. Many of those instances may be prevented by locking your automobile door at evening.
Q: What else do you need to share?
A: We need you to name us to report crime. If you see one thing, say one thing! If it’s an emergency, name 911. You can name our non-emergency quantity at (904) 824-8304 if that’s applicable. We wish to work collectively to dwell in one of many most secure communities within the state and within the nation.
Q: What is the easiest way for our readers to contact you with any questions or solutions about this text?
A: They can e-mail me at [email protected] or name me at (904) 824-8304. Also, our web site, www.sjso.org has a wealth of assets, from alarm registration to Crime Stoppers.