FBI Releases Annual Crime Statistics

The Federal Bureau of Investigation released its annual Crime in the United States report Monday and found an increase in assaults and violent crime, while seeing a drop in car theft and burglary in St. Clair Shores.

While there was an increase in some of the violent offenses, the city also saw no murders and a large drop in forcible rapes from 22 in 2009 to 9 in 2010.

St. Clair Shores Deputy Police Chief Glenn Bowlin said the department has not yet reviewed the annual report from the FBI, but regularly reviews reports and uses software to study crime trends in the city.

He added that the department can look week to week, or month to month, to respond to crime trends with the software and continued police work.

"If we see a pattern develop, we can saturate an area and be more proactive than reactive," Bowlin said.

He added that the economy is a factor in theft and domestic violence crimes.

"There is a lot more stress put on a person when there is a fear of job loss," he said.

In August 2010, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 12.2 percent. One year later, the unemployment rate is 11.2 percent. Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau reported the poverty rate in 2010 was the highest since 1993.

While there was an increase in some types of crimes, the Shores did follow a national trend by showing a drop in motor vehicle thefts and burglaries.

Source: FBI Crime in the United States report 2010 and 2009.