Crime Rate in Arlington Dropped 7.6 Percent in 2010

ARLINGTON, VA

Arlington's overall crime rate dropped 7.6 percent in 2010, the Arlington County Police Department reported today. The County saw decreases in homicides, robberies, burglaries and aggravated assaults.

The crime rate—the number of index crimes per 100,000 people—was 2,236 in 2010, down from 2,420 in 2009. Arlington’s crime rate has stayed historically low the past several years despite the economy.

In 2010, there were 307 burglaries, an almost 4 percent decrease from the year before. There were 3,942 larcenies in 2010, a 4.8 percent decrease. There were also 211 vehicles stolen in 2010, 86 more vehicles were stolen in 2009. There was an increase of nine cases of rape in Arlington County last year for a total of 24, with detectives closing over 87 percent of the incidents.

“I am pleased with the dedication of the officers and detectives in Arlington, and all that they have accomplished to make our county safer,” said Police Chief M. Douglas Scott. “However, we continue to remind citizens to make smart decisions concerning their personal safety, because even one victim is one victim too many.”