2018 Report: St. Paul saw decrease in homicides, increase in reported rapes
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - St. Paul is seeing a downward trend in its overall crime index after experiencing a decrease of certain crimes, including criminal homicides and robberies, according to a preliminary report on crime for 2018. However, other crimes saw an uptick, such as rape which had a nearly 30 percent increase.
Overall, Part 1 crime decreased in St. Paul by 7.2 percent compared to 2017. Part 1 crimes are the eight crimes the FBI uses to create its annual crime index. Those crimes include: criminal homicide, robbery, burglary, theft, arson, aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft and rape. According to the preliminary data, St. Paul's Part 1 crime index is 8.7 percent lower than it was in 2013.
In 2018, St. Paul reported 15 criminal homicides, which is a 31.8 percent decrease from 2017. Robberies, burglaries, thefts and arsons also saw decreases. The largest increase in Part 1 crime was seen in reported rape, which had a 27.6 percent increase.
St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell says the overall decrease in Part 1 crime comes from a variety of factors.
"Community members are engaging with their police department at historic levels," said Axtell in a statement. "And businesses are investing in our city and creating opportunities for people to succeed. Combined, this adds up to a safe place to live, raise families, work and play. But we know that we must remain vigilant and galvanized in our resolve to keep the peace and maintain public safety today, tomorrow and into the future.”