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City Crime Rate Falling

02/01/2019
City Crime Rate Falling
The crime rate is falling in the city of Allentown.

Figures from the Allentown Police Department reported to the Pennsylvania State Police Uniform Crime Reporting System for 2018 show a 16 percent reduction in Part I crimes from 2017, like homicide, rape, robbery, burglary and aggravated assault at 3,242. The overall crime rate fell 12 percent continuing a trend over the last 12 years. The number of Part I crimes topped 6,200 in the city 11 years ago.

Allentown recorded 12 homicides in 2018, down from 17 in 2017 and down nearly 50 percent from the 23 recorded in 2005. Robberies fell 32 percent and burglaries and burglary attempts dropped 27 percent.

“Public safety is my top priority,” said Mayor Ray O’Connell. “That means giving police the resources to get the job done. The department is putting an emphasis on hiring more officers to get to our authorized compliment of 222 officers.”

Police Chief Tony Alsleben believes a large part of the credit goes to community- oriented policing and data analysis. “We are able to focus more resources on problem areas. Our new fifth platoon increases our manpower at those peak times by 50 percent. It is making a difference in crime reduction and improving the quality of life for residents of those neighborhoods.”

The final 2018 State Police Uniform Crime Report will be released in June.

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