Violent crime dips in Youngstown in 2010

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

jgoodwin@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Violent crime in Youngstown dropped in 2010, but theft and burglary increased, according to crime statistics recently released by the Youngstown Police Department.

The department tracks annual percentage changes in eight areas of criminal activity — murder, rape, robbery, felonious assault, burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.

According to figures released by the Youngstown Police Department murder, rape, robbery and arson declined by 17 percent, 11 percent, 20 percent and 7 percent, respectively, in 2010 when compared with figures from 2009.

Burglary and theft both increased by 11 percent and 16 percent, respectively.

One fewer car was stolen in 2010 than in 2009.

The number of burglaries and thefts showed an increase in 2010 going from 1,869 burglaries in 2009 to 2,068 burglaries in 2010, and 1,468 thefts in 2009 to 1,709 thefts in 2010.

In 2009, the city recorded its first homicide Jan. 20. The first homicide of 2010 was recorded Jan. 2 with the murder of 30-year-old West Side resident Dene Montgomery, found shot to death on the North Side.

The city finished with 23 homicides in 2009. The total homicide count in 2010 was 20. Of the 20 homicides, eight have not been solved, but Capt. Rod Foley said the department is actively working the cases and has strong leads in several of them.

So far in 2011, only one homicide has been recorded in Youngstown, compared with five by Jan. 31 in 2010.