Amid the coronavirus pandemic and Gov. Kay Ivey's orders to stay at home last month, the majority of violent and property crimes in Montgomery have decreased, though there was a considerable increase in homicides last month.
The decreases continue an up-and-down pattern month to month for crime this year, according to monthly crime reports generated by the police department.
Even with the nine case increase in homicides last month, violent crime overall dropped by 12% from March to April and property crimes decreased by about 28%.
Compared to 2018 and 2019, violent crimes in April have usually stayed steady compared to the month prior while property crimes usually saw a spike in the spring months.
Homicides
Montgomery police launched nine homicide investigations last month, the most of any month this year so far. As of April 30, there had been one more case this year than the same time last year.
Seven of the victims were shot to death. Maryuri Aleman Cantillano, 17, who was reported missing by her family at the end of March was found stabbed to death April 14. Gary Young, 79, was beaten and died as a result of injuries sustained during the assault.
Two of the investigations stemmed from incidents that happened in previous months. Young was beaten March 11 and remained in the hospital until his death a month later. Police launched a homicide investigation upon his death.
Dana Riley, 31, was found gunned down February 2 but investigators were unable to determine what led to the shooting and it remained a death investigation until last month. Police announced the change in the case's status when Lorenzo Rainer was charged with murder in Riley's death.
Other violent crimes
Aside from homicides, reports of domestic violence increased.
Montgomery police took 20 reports of domestic violence-assault last month, compared to the 16 each reported in March and February and the 13 cases in January.
While Gov. Ivey's orders last month gave special dispensation for victims seeking a safer living environment, the restrictions on courts and other services has made it difficult for prosecutors and advocates to connect with victims.
More: Challenges of domestic violence worsen amid coronavirus pandemic
All other violent crimes decreased.
Montgomery police took no reports of felony sex abuse compared to the four the month before. There were 23 reported robberies while there were 35 reported in March. Aggravated assault cases also decreased to 51 from 59 cases the month before.
Property Crimes
For the past two years, property crimes in the month of April have numbered over 700. Last month, police only took 412 reports of various property crimes.
Burglaries were the only crime where there was an increase in reported incidents, with 145 reported compared to the 116 the month before.
The police department separates thefts into over $500, under $500 and theft from vehicles. The number of reported incidents decreased by 30% last month.
More: Police recover stolen items worth thousands in string of Montgomery storage unit break-ins
Despite the drop, police announced late last month that they'd arrested 36-year-old Thomas Smith in connection to several storage container break-ins. Smith was ultimately charged with 13 counts of third-degree burglary, three counts of first-degree theft of property, three counts of second-degree theft, five counts of third-degree theft of property, one count of fourth-degree theft and having an expired tag.
Police said since the first few break-ins were reported early last month, more cases were discovered. It's possible there are other cases that have yet to be reported, police said.
Thefts of vehicles, another separate category, decreased by 36%, according to the numbers from the crime report.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Kirsten Fiscus at 334-318-1798 or KFiscus@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KDFiscus
"crime" - Google News
May 07, 2020 at 10:18PM
https://ift.tt/2WypTKK
Safer at home? Montgomery's crime stats for April show drop in most crime, except homicides - Montgomery Advertiser
"crime" - Google News
https://ift.tt/37MG37k
https://ift.tt/2VTi5Ee
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Safer at home? Montgomery's crime stats for April show drop in most crime, except homicides - Montgomery Advertiser"
Post a Comment