Punta Gorda Crime Numbers Continue to Decline

 City of Punta Gorda Mid-Year Crime Numbers –

Lowest Crime Rate in Past Decade

Mid-year crime figures for the City of Punta Gorda have been calculated and forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for validation.  Those numbers reveal one common, consistent theme – crime in the City of Punta Gorda is at its lowest point in at least a decade. Florida uniform crime reporting (UCR)  is completed both annually and semi-annually, and serves as a measure for specific Part One (violent) and Part Two (non-violent) crimes.

A summary of January 2012 – June 2012 crime data in the City of Punta Gorda reveals the following:

City of Punta Gorda total index crimes dropped by 13.98% in the first half of 2012, falling from 186 index crimes to 160.  This is the lowest index crime rate in the City ofPunta Gorda in at least the past decade;

• Violent crime in the City of Punta Gorda decreased 63.64% (from 11 to 4 violent index crimes) in the first half of 2012, again the lowest in the past decade;
• Non-violent crime in the City of Punta Gorda fell to the lowest point in at least the past 10 years decreasing by 10.86%, dropping from 175 in the first six months of 2011 to 156 in the first six months of 2012;
• No homicides occurred within the City of Punta Gordain the first half of 2012;
• Forcible rape remained at the same level as last year (zero reported forcible rapes);
• The number of robberies decreased from 3 during the first half of 2011, to 1 during the first half of 2012.
• Aggravated assaults decreased from 8 in the first half of 2011 to 3 in the first half of 2012, another all-time low;
• Burglaries in the City ofPunta Gorda also hit a 10 year low, declining 3.23% from 31 reported in 2011 to 30 reported in the first six months of 2012;
• The number of cases involving larceny decreased 10.87% from 138 in the first half of 2011 to 123 in the first half of 2012; 
• The index crime clearance rate in the City ofPunta Gordais calculated by FDLE and will be released in September 2012;
• The total number of UCR arrests decreased 24.22% from 450 in 2011 to 341 in 2012.

Chief Albert (Butch) Arenal credits the continuing reduction in crime to a community-oriented approach.  “Although we are extremely pleased with these trends, we at the Police Department have always been cautious not to take too much credit for dropping crime rates.  Combating crime is a city-wide effort, and all City employees and officials take part in creating an atmosphere that deters crime.  Most importantly – a close partnership with our citizens is the key.”

Chief Arenal is also proud of the service his agency provides.  “Punta Gorda Police personnel take great pride in providing unmatched service to our citizens.  And most importantly, we take great pride in making Punta Gorda the least desirable place for predatory criminals.”