Evanston crime rate down for eighth consecutive year

Evanston’s crime rate dropped in 2005 for the eighth year in a row, putting the rate at its lowest since 1970, according to Evanston Police Department statistics released Monday.

Evanston’s crime index rate – the number of violent crimes such as murder, assault, robbery and theft – decreased by 6.4 percent, a drop of 220 crimes.

The crime rates reported in the EPD statistics do not include cases reported to University Police.

There were two murders in Evanston in 2005, down from three in 2004. The first incident occurred in June at The Keg of Evanston, 810 Grove St., involving two men who previously knew each other. The second, the November stabbing of an Evanston woman in West Evanston, remains unsolved.

Thefts made up 2,259 of the 3,191 crimes reported in 2005. Despite the large number, the number of thefts decreased by 117 incidents.

Property crimes like burglary, theft and arson continued an eight-year decline. Motor vehicle thefts were one of two categories that increased, with 22 more thefts reported, bringing the total to 125.

Violent crimes also continued a 10-year decline. Only one violent crime, criminal sexual assault, had an increasing rate. The number climbed from seven to eight. The rates of robbery and aggravated assault and battery have continued to decline. Both figures have dropped to half of what they were 10 years ago.

EPD Chief Frank Kaminski said in a press release that community policing efforts in the past few years helped to decrease the Evanston crime rate.

Programs like the Citizen Police Academy and the Community Emergency Response Team have made the difference, he said in the release.

“There are challenges ahead of us and by continuing our partnership and problem-solving initiatives, we can continue to positively affect the quality of life in Evanston,” Kaminski said in the release.