Email: rking@pbcommercial.com
Fueled by increases in aggravated and simple assaults, reported crime in Pine Bluff increased for the first time this year compared to 2016 figures. According to the monthly report from the Pine Bluff Police Department, there were 413 crimes reported in April, compared to 404 a year ago, a 2.23 percent increase.
Prior to last month, reported crime was down just over 8 percent in January, a half-percent in February and 2 percent in March. The biggest jumps were recorded in simple assaults, which went from 122 in April 2016 to 161 last month, and aggravated assaults, which jumped from 36 in April 2016 to 51 last month.
Looking at other crimes against persons, reported robberies increased from eight a year ago to 14 last month, while rapes and attempted rapes went down by one, from five to four. As the city completed the first four months of 2016, there had been two murders reported, while so far this year, there have been 10, which equals the total number for all of 2016. Last year, Pine Bluff did not record its third murder until May, then added four in June, then one each in July, October and November.
While crimes against persons went up last month, reported property crimes declined, the report said. There were two commercial burglaries reported last month, compared to 11 in April 2016. For the year, there have been 31 commercial burglaries reported, 20 fewer than for the same period in 2016.
Residential burglaries also dropped, going from 76 in April 2016 to 40 last month. So far this year, there have been 201 reported residential burglaries, 44 less than for the first four months of 2016. Reported theft also showed a decrease, dropping from 127 in April 2016 to 113 last month, while reported auto thefts increased from 19 in April 2016 to 26 last month.