Crime in Riverside during the first half of 2009 is on the rise compared to the first half of 2008, with property related offenses continuing to predominate, according to Police Chief Thomas Weitzel.
On Aug. 11, Weitzel released crime statistics for the first six months of the year, focusing in on offenses the department uses to compile its annual uniform crime report for the Illinois State Police.
The state’s uniform crime report focuses on eight crime categories, including murder, criminal sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault/battery, theft, burglary, arson and motor vehicle theft.
“Crime is up, there’s no question,” said Weitzel. “But our officers are doing a good job and are making apprehensions. The economy is having an effect on property crimes, and people need to remember to lock their doors and their cars.”
According to Weitzel, the overall number of reportable crimes is up 12.4 percent in the first six months of 2009, compared to the same time period in 2008. Riverside police reported 55 thefts as of June 30, 2009, compared to 34 in 2008.
The village also experienced four robberies in the first half of 2009, compared to none in 2008, but there have been no robberies since late March. Police apprehended suspects in three of those four robberies.
Chicago police, meanwhile, have a man in custody who is suspected of hijacking a car at gunpoint in Riverside in late December 2008. After six months of waiting, Weitzel said, Cook County Sheriff’s Police will soon give Riverside results of fingerprint analysis related to that case.
Riverside police also reported one criminal sexual assault in the first half of 2009, compared to none in 2008. The Cook County State’s Attorney did not pursue charges in that case due to an uncooperative victim, Weitzel said.
Other crime categories saw decreases in the first half of 2009, including burglary, motor vehicle theft and aggravated assault/battery. In particular burglaries are down from 17 in the first months of 2008 to just six in 2009.
There were no murder or arson cases in Riverside in 2008 or 2009.
The increase in the overall number of crimes continues a trend started in 2008. Year over year in 2008, the number of reportable crimes was up 72 percent from 2007. Thefts, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts drove the increase. Violent crimes decreased slightly in 2008.