St. Louis Area Police Release 2012 Crime Statistics

The City of St. Louis released its annual crime statistics on Wednesday.

The numbers show a 12.4 percent decrease in so-called “Part One” crimes, such as murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults and vehicle thefts.

The total number of murders committed in 2012 was 113 (the same as the previous year)

2013 will also be the first year for a new definition of rape, which has been broadened to include victims of same-sex assault.

Police Chief Sam Dotson says the new definition will create a more accurate picture of sex crimes in our city.

“Our rape numbers will increase and double,” Dotson says. “Not that there will be more instances, those instances were already occurring, they’re just counted differently.”

Prior to the new definition Dotson says perpetrators of same-sex rape were charged, but the crime did not register in the FBI’s rape statistics.

“What it does is it expands the category to include victims of same-sex rape—that’s a good thing,” he says.  “We were always charging those individuals under a state crime, but they were never recognized under those FBI numbers.”

Other takeaways from St. Louis City and County statistics :

City of St. Louis:

• "In 2012 the department reported 27,853 Part I Crimes (Homicides, ForcibleRapes, Robberies, Aggravated Assaults, Burglaries, Larcenies/Thefts, Vehicle Thefts and
  Arsons). This represents a 12.4 percent decrease compared to 2011 when there were
  31,811 reported Part I Crimes." The department says this is the lowest number since 1966 when there were 25,798 crimes reported.
  
• "The department reported 113 Homicides in 2012, which is equal to the number ofHomicides reported in 2011."
  
• "Property Crimes decreased 14.2 percent when compared to 2011, from 25,860
  

​St. Louis County:

• There were 8 homicides reported in 2012 – a decrease of nearly 53 percent.
• The number of rapes decreased 20.6 percent. 
• Robbery decreased 12 percent and burglary decreased 21.1 percent. 
• Arson decreased nearly 11 percent.
• Larceny decreased by 7.2 percent.

• Motor vehicle theft (+13.3 percent) and aggravated assault (+2.4 percent) showed the only increases.

St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch shared on Twitter earlier today that the St. Louis County patrol areas haven't seen crime this low in 43 years, since 1969. 

He also shared more information about his department's patrol area: