Ann Arbor's Crime Stats Now Open for All to See

Crime Rates Show Mixed Results

Ann Arbor is taking steps to improve community awareness of crime with a new online tool. This tool provides crime statistics from recent years, revealing a 7% decrease in overall crime compared to last year. Violent crime has also seen a 4% reduction.

However, not all areas are experiencing these improvements.

Downtown Ann Arbor Sees Crime Increase

Despite the overall decline, downtown Ann Arbor has witnessed a 9% rise in total crime and an 11% increase in violent crime. Ward 1, which encompasses a significant portion of downtown, has also seen an 8% rise in total crime and an 11% increase in violent crime.

Police attribute this uptick to late-night activities, particularly between 12:00 and 3:00 am on Sundays, when people are leaving bars and other late-night establishments.

Ward 5 Leads in Reported Crimes

Ward 5 reported the highest number of crimes, with 1,423 incidents. However, this area saw a 5% decrease in total crimes.

Police Focus on Prevention and Community Engagement

Police Chief Andre Anderson emphasizes that arrests alone are not the solution. Instead, the department is focusing on prevention strategies to reduce crime. Anderson is hosting quarterly community meetings to discuss these issues and involve the public in finding solutions.

"Collaboration is key to addressing crime trends effectively."

Community Involvement and Future Steps

The Ann Arbor Police Department will share details of these community meetings on their Facebook page. This new tool and approach aim to make the community more informed and engaged in crime prevention efforts.