Las Cruces crime rate up in 2007
By Jose L. Medina / Las Cruces Sun-News
Article Launched: 03/23/2008 05:02:31 AM MDT

NOTE: Las Cruces is about 25 miles west of El Paso and the border.

LAS CRUCES - Crime in Las Cruces increased 8 percent in 2007 compared to 2006, the fourth hike in the past five years, according to the police department's annual crime statistics report.
A total of 23,457 crimes were reported in 2007, while 21,732 were tallied in 2006.

"I think we're a very safe city and our clearance rate shows that crime is not running rampant, that we do have control of crime in regards to our clearance rate," said Police Chief Harry Romero.

The Las Cruces Police Department cleared 63 percent of violent crime cases in 2007, according to the report. The clearance rate for 2006 - the percentage of crimes in which an arrest was made - was 54 percent.

"Obviously with our town, our community growing, unfortunately there's a possibility of an increase (in crime)," said Mayor Ken Miyagishima. "Overall, I think Las Cruces Police Department is doing well. Our clearance rate is usually above average and I think it's still the case here today."

The report includes only those crimes occurring within the city limits. Figures from the Doña Ana Sheriff's Department were not available.

The rise in crime was surprising to 51-year-old Las Crucen Dave Marlin.

"I know we're not crime free, but I know we're a lot safer than the other big city in New Mexico," he said. "Or the other big cities I travel when I'm on business."

Violent crimes - also called Class 1 offenses - decreased 17 percent in 2007, though much of that drop can be attributed to a


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misclassification of forcible rapes in prior years.
In 2007, 30 rapes were reported. That followed at least four years in which the number of rapes reported was more than double, even triple that figure.

In prior years certain assaults were being misclassified as rapes and not in line with FBI guidelines, leading to inflated figures, the department explained. The 30 rapes reported in 2007 are a more accurate representation than what has been reported in prior years, Romero said.

Homicide/negligent manslaughter cases in 2007 totaled six, compared to four in 2006.

Class 1 crimes also include burglaries, larceny, auto theft and arson. Those crimes saw an increase of 9 percent.

Miyagishima said the city will look at expanding Neighborhood Watch efforts and other programs to help curb crime.

The 2007 hike in overall crime is mostly due to an increase in Class 2 crimes, which include everything from credit card fraud, vandalism, liquor law violations and other miscellaneous offenses.

The biggest percentage increase in Class 2 crimes was stolen property incidents, which jumped 40 percent, with a total of 49 cases reported in 2007 compared to 35 in 2006.

The number of reports received of crimes against children skyrocketed with 473 more incidents reported in 2007 - a total of 3,294 - than in 2006, with 2,821.

The clearance rate for Class 2 crimes remained unchanged at 81 percent in 2007.

Jose Medina can be reached at jmedina@lcsun-news.com

By the numbers

The following are statistics for Class 1 and Class 2 crimes, which range from violent incidents, such as homicide, rape and aggravated assault, to crimes against children, vandalism and embezzlement

2007: 23,457 (+8%)

2006: 21,732 (-5%)

2005: 22,838 (+4%)

2004: 21,873 (+2%)

2003: 21,375

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