The latest crime statistics report shows that there has been an overall decrease in property crime in the City of Colton, according to the 2016-2017 crime statistics report issued by the Colton Police Department.
Comparing the 2016-2017 crime report to the 2015-2016 crime report, Colton has seen a decrease in the following property crime categories: burglary, larceny and auto theft.
A possible reason for this decrease is "usually a variety of factors," a Colton Police Department Administrator said. Some of those factors being, "the re-incarceration of property crime offenders from early release programs. Identification of serial offenders through investigation and cooperation with neighboring jurisdictions. The re-establishment of patrol levels depleted from multiple vacancies due to retirements. The establishment of a proactive street team to address quality of life issues and gang activity."
According to the latest report, which compares the total number of crimes reported from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, to reported crimes from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, shows that Colton has experienced an 11 percent decrease in larceny with 882 reported in 2015/16 to 783 in 2016/17.
The report also indicates that Colton saw a decrease in other property crime categories. There was a 14 percent decrease in burglaries from 335 reported in 2015/16 to 287 in 2016/17 and a 19 percent decrease in auto theft with 551 reported in 2015/16 to 445 in 2016/17.
However, the City of Colton also saw decreases in several violent crime categories such as rape, robbery and arson, according to the Colton Police Department annual report.
According to the report, Colton had a 4 percent decrease in robbery, which differs from burglary because it involves using fear or force in order to take personal property that belongs to another, with 102 reported in 2015/16 and 98 in 2016/17.
However, Colton experienced an increase in homicide and assault crimes reported, according to the annual report.
"If a citizen witnesses any crime, the best advice is to call and report it to your local law enforcement agency," said Misty Kershner, Colton PD Communication Supervisor. "We do not encourage any citizen to confront somebody who may be involved in committing any crime, regardless of the type."
The number of homicides went up from two to five and the number of assaults, a physical attack, increased from 425 reported in 2015/16 to 440 in 2016/17, according to the report.
"We are actively working on the newest crime statistics and we hope to have them uploaded to our website as soon as we can," Kershner said.
In the meantime, the Colton Police Department has a digital crime map on its website that allows citizens to stay up to date and locate when, where and what type of crime was reported.