Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - Page updated at 08:50 AM
Violent crime down in state, data indicate
Seattle Times staff
Violent crime is down across the state, but property crimes are up, according to a six-month statistical snapshot compiled by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
The same held true in King County, but violent crimes and property crimes increased slightly in Seattle, according to the report.
The midyear statistics compare the number of crimes committed in the first six months of 2004 with those committed during the first six months of 2005.
Local law-enforcement officials cautioned against reading too much into the figures, saying trends can't be extrapolated given the short time span.
For instance, the statistics indicate a 10 percent increase in the state's murder rate, but that spike can be directly attributed to Yakima County: In the first six months of 2004 there was one homicide in the county, but between January and June 2005 nine people died as a result of homicidal violence, according to the midyear report. The difference of eight homicides brought the state total to 97, versus 88 during the corresponding period last year.
To view the complete midyear report of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, go to:
www.waspc.org/wucrwibr/2005MidYear.pdf"Crime statistics are more valuable when you can look at trends over several years," King County Sheriff's Sgt. John Urquhart said.
Still, Urquhart said the rise in property crimes — a 3.4 percent increase for the state and a 2.4 percent increase for King County — is likely connected to methamphetamine use.
"More than any other drug, it probably promotes other types of crime," such as identity theft, mail theft and car theft, he said.