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Report: Crime Is Lower In Downtown St. Louis

St. Louis Public Radio

Published April 1, 2005 at 7:30 AM CST

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"