Overall Crime Dropped Last Year in Fairfax County

Photo by John Arundel

ALEXANDRIA, VA. - Fairfax County ended 2009 with an overall drop of nearly five percent in index crimes compared with 2008. Index crimes, reported monthly to federal authorities, include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.

Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault) decreased by 14.6 percent: property crimes (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) decreased by 4.5 percent.

“I’m pleased to see the drop in overall crime and especially the nearly 15 percent decline in violent crime,” said Colonel Dave Rohrer, Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department.

“One of our key anti-crime strategies is our focus on repeat offenders.  Historically, a small percentage of offenders commit a high percentage of crimes, and we have made it a priority to focus on them.”  

Crime                              Jan. – Dec. 2008        Jan.– Dec. 2009

Murder                                       22                             14     
Rape                                          95                            105    
Robbery                                    450                             86    
Aggravated Assault                386                            309    
Burglary                                  1,438                         1,385  
Larceny                                  16,244                      15,643
Motor Vehicle Theft                1,288                        1,096  
Total                                       19,923                      18,938