Claremont burglaries are the lowest they’ve been since 1999 and, for the second year in a row, the city has experienced an overall four percent reduction in Part I crimes compared to the previous year, according to the city’s 2014 crime statistics.

The 2014 Part I Crime Data report submitted by the Claremont Police Department (CPD) and received by city council on January 27 is an overview of the criminal offenses reported in Claremont during the previous calendar year.

The CPD participates in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, a nationwide, cooperative statistical effort of nearly 17,000 law enforcement agencies that voluntarily report data on crimes brought to their attention. The UCR system divides those crimes into two categories: Part I and Part II. Part I crimes are comprised of crimes against persons (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) and crimes against property (burglary, theft, auto theft and arson). 

All other crimes are classified as Part II.

Using the UCR system, the Claremont Police Department tracks crime in three categories: incidents occuring in the city with the exception of the Colleges, crimes taking place at the Claremont Colleges, and the city overall, which includes the city and the Colleges reported together.

Looking at the city overall, there were 39 crimes against persons reported in 2014 compared to 37 reported in 2013, an increase of five percent. Crimes against property saw a four percent decrease in 2014, with 859 crimes reported as opposed to 899 crimes reported in 2013. Property crimes represented 96 percent of the crimes reported in Claremont in 2014.

At the Colleges, crimes against persons increased with four reported rapes in 2014 compared to one reported rape in 2013. Thefts increased as well with 196 reported in 2014 compared with 140 reported the previous year.

Within the city-only category, there was an overall reduction of 10 percent in regards to property crimes, which includes a significant 40 percent decrease in auto thefts and a 20 percent reduction in burglaries from 2013.

Residential burglaries in the city are on the decline for the third year in a row. There were 154 residential burglaries last year, compared to 159 in 2013, a three percent decrease.

Commercial burglaries are also down 67 percent from the previous year, with 51 commercial burglaries reported in 2014.

Although crimes spiked at the Claremont Colleges last year, police credit a joint effort with the community and the Claremont Colleges Campus Safety Department for their ability to have an impact on crime city-wide. Watch groups such as Claremont Crime Prevention Coalition, Keeping Good in the Neighborhood, the Occidental Neighbors and the Wheeler Park Neighbors, along with the Safe and Healthy Housing volunteer group have contributed to the overall safety in Claremont, police said.

The CPD crime fighting efforts are also enhanced with the aide of technology. The Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) continues to be a valuable resource, not only in catching criminals before they commit new crimes, but also to provide CPD with additional leads to solve crimes when they are committed within city limits. Since its implementation in 2011, Claremont police have located 19 adandoned stolen vehicles, 46 parked stolen vehicles where a suspect was arrested and 124 “rolling” stolen vehicles stopped where the suspect was arrested. Additionally, 79 arrests were made for outstanding warrants as well as 22 other arrests as a result of the ALPR.

The CPD also recently added Bair Analytics, a technology tool that allows police to map crimes on the department’s computers in the station as well as in the officers’ cars in the field. Watch commanders use the techology to make note of crime trends while on their shifts. Officers can also see what crimes have occurred within their patrol beat to watch for developing patterns. In the future, there’s hope this tool may be used to forecast crime throughout the city, the report said.

For the Claremont Police Department, the goal remains to be as proactive as possible, working with community partners to educate and increase awareness in an effort to prevent a return of significantly higher crime rates.

If you suspect a crime is occurring, please contact the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.

—Angela Bailey

news@claremont-courier.com