FDLE: State crime rate drops in first half of 2003

Collier County's figures, which include the Sheriff's Office, and Naples and Marco police forces, recorded a 3 percent overall drop in these reported crimes, according to the FDLE numbers.

The biggest decreases between January and June 2003 were in burglaries and car thefts.

"A decrease in burglaries is remarkable," Collier Sheriff Don Hunter said Tuesday. "It's a virtually unpreventable crime. People are taking charge and taking responsibility."

Countywide, burglaries fell from 1,286 to 1,056, while car thefts decreased from 263 to 235, FDLE figures say. Robberies totaled 141, compared with 144 in 2002.

Increases came in murders, from four in the first six months of 2002 to eight homicides during the same period in 2003 in Collier County. Rapes increased from 37 to 40 and aggravated assaults jumped from 509 to 567, the semiannual report says. Reported thefts also increased from 2,773 to 2,819 in the first six months of 2003.

Hunter credited the teamwork among the law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime.

The Sheriff's Office recorded a 2.9 percent drop, while Naples Police numbers were just shy of a 1 percent decrease. Marco Police saw a 15 percent drop in its 139 reported crimes, FDLE numbers show.

Statewide, FDLE reported that 5,772 fewer crimes were reported in the state during the first half of the year, or a 1.3 percent decrease from 2002. Sex crimes, aggravated assaults and burglaries all dropped, though there were slight increases in domestic violence, larcenies and murders.

The value of property stolen in Florida through the end of June was $722 million, a drop of $61.3 million. While crime dropped, FDLE reported that arrests increased by 6.1 percent.

"Last spring we announced the lowest crime rate in Florida in 30 years. Today it is my pleasure to report a continuation in that trend," FDLE Commissioner Guy Tunnell said. "The rise in arrests and decline in offenses statewide are proof that law enforcement efforts and public policies continue to promote increased public safety."

More people were arrested -- 481,605 -- than crimes were committed.

Tunnell credited good police work, stronger public awareness and recent get-tough-on-crime laws with helping drive down the crime rate.

"It's a combination of things that are coming together and we're starting to realize that benefit," Tunnell said. "I'm encouraged by the numbers."

Florida has passed several get-tough laws over the past decade, including one in 1995 that requires inmates to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. Three years earlier, prisoners on average served 34 percent of their sentences.

And Gov. Jeb Bush has signed bills into law since being elected in 1998 that require tougher mandatory sentences for some felons and for criminals who use guns.

"We continue to build on these gains that have been made in fighting crime," said Bush spokeswoman Alia Faraj. "The governor has taken a very focused approach to public safety and we are encouraged by the reduction in crime."

But University of Florida criminology professor Alex Piquero said those laws are only part of the picture.

"They may have had a part, but it's an appreciatively small part," he said, adding that they apply to people who commit a relatively small number of the crimes listed in the report.

Overall, there were 436,882 crimes reported through the end of June. Of those, 61,699, or about 14 percent, were violent crimes.

Demographics may play a larger role in the lower rate. Piquero said people aged 15-24 are more prone to committing crimes, but they make up a slightly smaller portion of the population than in past years.

"Crime goes cyclical," Piquero said. "It has been on a trend to go down, but I think the tide will turn in five or six years."

Staff Writer Brigid O'Malley contributed to this report.