For the fourth straight month, reported crime dropped in Pine Bluff compared to a year ago, according to a report from the Pine Bluff Police Department.
Last month, there were 427 reported crimes, compared to 507 in April 2011, a decrease of 15.78 percent.
According to the report, there were 77 reported burglaries last month, compared to 111 that were reported for the same period a year ago. Reported thefts dropped from 186 in April 2011 to 180 last month, while auto thefts also declined from 27 to 8.
Department figures showed that for the first four months of this year, there have been 125 fewer burglaries reported than were reported for the same period last year. There have been 28 fewer thefts reported, and 22 fewer auto thefts.
In the crimes against persons category, the city recorded its sixth homicide last month, that’s four more than were reported during the first four months of 2011, and one of two categories which showed an increase compared to 2011 figures.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
There were 102 simple assaults reported last month, 15 less than in April 2011. So far this year, 479 simple assaults have been reported, eight more than in 2011.
Reported aggravated assaults last month dropped to 36, compared to 42 in April 2011, while rapes and attempted rapes went from six last April 4 to four last month.
While the total number of robberies increased to 19 last month compared to 16 in 2011, department figures indicated that for the first four months of this year, there have been five fewer than for the same period in 2011.