By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – There were 257 fewer crimes reported last year than in 2003.
Motor vehicle theft was down substantially and there were two more reported arsons.
Downtown St. Louis Partnership executive director Jim Cloar credits the drop in part to the influx of new residents in the loft district.
"People moving into lofts means we have more eyes and ears on the street; they can report things and the folks who might otherwise think they had an open license to commit some of the crimes don't feel quite as comfortable because they know there are people are observing them.
Police presence will be stepped up in downtown St. Louis this weekend, as the city prepares for an estimated 100,000 visitors for the Final Four.
St. Louis Crime Statistics
4th District | YTD 2004 | YTD 2003 | Yearly Differences | Percent Change |
Total Homicide | 4 | 2 | 2 | 200 |
Total Rape | 8 | 6 | 2 | 33.3 |
Total Robbery | 261 | 282 | -21 | -7.4 |
Total Aggravated Assault | 337 | 355 | -18 | -5.1 |
Total Person Crime | 609 | 647 | -38 | -5.9 |
Total Burglaries | 388 | 375 | 13 | 3.5 |
Total Larceny | 3342 | 3397 | -55 | -1.6 |
From Motor Vehicles | 1401 | 1594 | -163 | -10.2 |
Total Vehicle Theft | 794 | 1151 | -357 | -31.0 |
Total Arson | 24 | 14 | 10 | 71.4 |
Total Property Crime | 4548 | 4937 | -389 | -7.9 |
Total Part One Crime | 5157 | 5584 | -427 | -7.6 |
Downtown | YTD 2004 | YTD 2003 | Yearly Differences | Percent Change |
Total Homicide | 0 | 1 | -1 | -100 |
Total Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total Robbery | 90 | 93 | -3 | -3.2 |
Total Aggravated Assault | 89 | 89 | -3 | -3.3 |
Total Person Crime | 179 | 186 | -7 | -3.8 |
Total Burglaries | 83 | 112 | -29 | -25.9 |
Total Larceny | 1472 | 1534 | -62 | -4.0 |
From Motor Vehicles | 683 | 798 | -115 | -14.4 |
Total Vehicle Theft | 183 | 344 | -161 | -46.8 |
Total Arson | 3 | 1 | 2 | 200 |
Total Property Crime | 1741 | 1991 | -250 | -12.6 |
Total Part One Crime | 1920 | 2177 | -257 | -11.8 |
Source: "2004 Downtown St. Louis Report on Safety"