Despite a three fold increase in homicides during the first five months of 2012 compared to 2011, overall reported crime dropped 11.34 percent in May, according to Pine Bluff Police Department statistics.
There have been nine homicides reported so far this year inside the Pine Bluff city limits, compared to three for the same period a year ago.
Police have made arrests in six of the nine homicides. Prosecutors ruled one homicide as justified.
Even with the increase in homicides, total crimes against persons decreased slightly last month and for the first five months of 2012.
The drop was the fifth straight month that reported crimes have gone down compared to the previous year.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
There were 21 reported robberies in May 2011 and just one last month and simple assaults declined from 146 in 2011 to 134 last month.
Aggravated assaults for the month stayed the same as the previous year, with 42 reported, and there were six rapes reported last month in the city compared to none a year ago.
The biggest drop came in the category of crimes against property, particularly in the category of burglaries and motor vehicle thefts.
According to the monthly report, there were 114 burglaries reported in May, 37 fewer than were reported in May 2011. Reported motor vehicle thefts dropped from 27 in 2011 to 13 last month, while reported thefts increased by 10 from 185 in May 2011 to 195 last month.
“We’re proud to report for the month of May 2012 compared to May 2011 a 11.34 percent decrease in crime, which would be an overall total for 2012 a drop from 2011 and still continuing to drop,” Capt. Greg Shapiro said Monday during a meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee.