Major crimes down in St. Charles

St. Charles police officials say the city’s soon-to-be published annual report of crime statistics will show the city is as peaceful as ever.

That feeling is based on the overall reduction of many of the most serious crimes, or at least crime that was reported to police, in 2010. There were still several incidents of serious crime in the city.

For instance, St. Charles did have one attempted murder case reported in 2010. There were none in 2009. Statistics also indicate an increase in the number of criminal sexual assaults in 2010. There were a total of 13 compared to only 10 in 2009. However, police said the increase is directly attributable to a single incident involving nine counts of criminal sexual assault. Robbery was also up in the city with seven such incidents in 2010 compared to only three in 2009.

Felony theft is a much more common major crime, but it also saw the biggest drop in total number of incidents. Felony thefts numbered 508 in 2010, a 23 percent drop from the 662 cases reported in 2009. Aggravated assault/battery cases dropped to 26 cases in 2010, 20 fewer than in 2009. Motor vehicle thefts fell by more than half with only 12 incidents in 2010 compared to 28 cases in 2009. Arson proved to still be a rare crime with only three cases in 2010.

A report of all the crimes in the city in 2010 will soon be available on the city’s website and give a fuller picture of police activity. Police Chief James Lamkin issued a statement saying citizens played a key role in crime reduction in 2010.

“We are very pleased that we’re able to continue the low crime rate in the city,” Lamkin said. “The members of the department would like to acknowledge and thank our citizens for coming forward and providing valuable information, which is so important in solving crime and keeping a low crime rate.”