If you live in Bossier Parish, this is well worth the read! Sheriff Julian Whittington has released the 2012 crime stats from the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office.Jan. 31, 2013

BOSSIER SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASES 2012 CRIME STATS

Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington releases 2012 crime statistics which reflect a decrease in violent crimes and an increase in property crimes, while total calls for service with the Bossier Sheriff’s Office slightly decreased last year.

Bossier Sheriff’s Office worked no homicides, two rapes and two robberies in 2012, along with 346 assault and battery crimes. Major violent crimes against people fell from 371 in 2011 to 350 in 2012, a decrease of 5.7%.

Major property crimes rose from 469 in 2011 to 565 in 2012, an increase of 20.5%, primarily due to an increase in theft.

“Ways to help decrease property crimes is to make your residence, business or vehicle harder targets for criminals,” said Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington. “Lock your doors, secure your windows and keep valuables out of plain site. Theft is often a crime of opportunity, and taking a few simple precautions can help keep you being a victim in the first place.”

Total calls for service for the Bossier Sheriff’s Office dipped slightly by 72 with 22,755 in calls 2011 to 22,683 in 2012, a reduction of 0.3%. All crimes worked by the Bossier Sheriff’s Office totaled 2,872 for 2012, an increase of 8.1% from 2011.

MAJOR CRIMES 2011 2012 # CHANGE % CHANGE

PERSON CRIMES
HOMICIDE 1 0 -1 -100.0%
RAPE 0 2 2 200.0%
ROBBERY 4 2 -2 -50.0%
BATTERY 300 277 -23 -7.7%
ASSAULT 66 69 3 4.5%
PERSON CRIMES TOTAL 371 350 -21 -5.7%

PROPERTY CRIMES
BURGLARY RESIDENCE 45 59 14 31.1%
BURGLARY BUSINESS 5 11 6 120.0%
BURGLARY VEHICLE 53 64 11 20.8%
THEFT 357 420 63 17.6%
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT 8 10 2 25.0%
ARSON 1 1 0 0.0%
PROPERTY CRIMES TOTAL 469 565 96 20.5%

TOTAL MAJOR CRIMES 840 915 75 8.9%

TOTAL PARISH CRIMES 2,657 2,872 215 8.1%

TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE 22,755 22,683 -72 -0.3%

“These crime statistics show Bossier Parish continues to be a safe place to live, work and raise a family,” said Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington. “Crime rates have been low in Bossier Parish for years, a testament to our professional deputies, Posse members and the residents of Bossier Parish. Our partnerships with police departments in Bossier City, Benton, Haughton, and Plain Dealing, as well as the Bossier Marshal’s Office, Louisiana State Police and neighboring law enforcement agencies epitomize our commitment to public safety,” Whittington continued.

“Neighborhood Watch programs and National Night Out are also ways to keep crime low in any community,” Whittington said. “When neighbors get to know each other and work together, it helps keep criminals at bay in our neighborhoods and subdivisions.”

Contact the Bossier Sheriff’s Office at 318-965-2203 to find out more about starting a Neighborhood Watch program in your area.

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