Rate Of ‘Major’ Crime Declines In The City

SARATOGA SPRINGS— The number of arrests increased 15 percent in 2013 on the year, according to the city’s Public Safety Department’s annual report; although, officials assure that the crime rate is still low. There were 152 more arrests last year than in 2012, pushing the total number up to 1,199 arrests in 2013. Overall, the amount of major crimes the department is required to report to the FBI is actually in decline. There were fewer reported forcible rapes, fewer felony assaults, and fewer burglaries, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts. Reviewing the previous 14 years of arrest data reported to the Department of Justice, the crime rate has remained relatively stable. Violent crimes have decreased but they usually remain low, while property crimes have seen fluctuations which may be due to individuals on crime sprees. For example there were 25 more burglaries in 2012 than in 2013, but it could have been due to single burglar who may have robbed several homes. Arrests made for driving while intoxicated spiked to 107 more arrests in 2013 than in the previous 14 years even with the increased enforcement efforts that included eight DWI checkpoints five “high intensity enforcement periods” as well as two seatbelt checkpoints. The traffic division also issued 10,650 parking tickets in 2013 resulting in a total of $388,785 in fines.