2009 Crime Statistics

SNAPSHOT ANALYSIS: Major Crimes are up through the first four months of 2009 by 9% overall, when compared to the same time period in 2008.  Increases have occurred in all crime categories except homicide, rape and vehicle theft.  The increases in robbery, burglary and larceny continue a trend seen in the latter half of 2008.  The increase in aggravated assaults reverses a downward trend from the last two years.  The table below depicts reported Major Crimes by month in 2009 and compares the year-to-date totals with the same period in 2008.

ADDRESSING CRIME TRENDS: The Department will be assisted in its efforts to address these crime trends by the new officers that have been added to the force already and are now completing their training. By the beginning of summer 2009, an additional 45-50 officers will be deployed.  In addition, the Department will be hiring 80 more officers during 2009.
[Find out more about SPD staffing and Neighborhood Policing] 

Other steps being taken by the Department include adopting a task force approach to targeted crimes and crime areas and active participation in the Seattle Youth Violent Prevention Initiative taking place in the Central Area, Southeast and Southwest Seattle.  More specific response efforts are profiled on the precinct level pages.

CITYWIDE DATA:

Citywide Major Crimes(Links to XLS )

Citywide Major Crimes(Links to PDF )

CONSIDERATIONS:

The Seattle Police Department cautions against using crime and/or other police data to make decisions/comparisons regarding the safety of an area or the amount of crime.

Crime statistics represent only police services where a report was made and do not include other calls for police service.

The data do not reflect or certify "safe" or "unsafe" areas. When looking at crime statistics it is important to consider geography (business vs. residential), and major institutions that exist within the boundaries (i.e. hospitals, schools, parks, etc.) of the reporting areas.

Data will sometimes reflect where the crime was reported versus where the crime occurred.

Areas with a high volume of foot traffic or that are more densely populated may have more reported crime. This does not necessarily mean more crime occurs there, but that more crime is reported there.