The city of Decatur this week released its 2016 crime stats, noting an overall decrease in cases, while robberies increased more than two-fold.
Last year the city police worked 26 robberies, an uptick of 117 percent from the 12 worked in 2015, according to the data. But the number of total cases sat at 643 worked, a 21 percent fall from 2015.
There were:
- 85 burglaries, down from 121 in 2015
- 36 vehicle thefts compared to 61
- 404 larcenies compared to 532
- two rapes, up from one
- one murder, which was one more than 2015
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The department noted relatively small numbers of cases can create large percentage shifts.
The clearance rate, which is based on whether a case is resolved, was 19 percent, compared to 20 percent in 2015. The department noted it cleared most case types — other than larcenies and vehicle thefts — at a rate higher than the national average.
Vehicle thefts were least likely to be cleared, with that rate sitting at 8 percent, while the national average is only slightly better at 12 percent.
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