Statistical Information

 

N.C. State Bureau of Investigation- Uniform Crime Index

(www.ncsbi.gov)

The NC SBI maintains public records of the number crimes each county and city reports during each year.The Uniform Crime Index allows you to see a snapshot of what is happening in your county or city location. This reporting is two fold, it can tell you if you are headed in the right direction with your proactive programs to reduce violent crimes, as well as property crimes. It also allows the public to view what crime is mostly affecting them and their communities.

At a quick glance lets compare Crime Index Numbers 2018 and 2019. The 2019 is the first full year of Sheriff Danny Rogers Administration. The 2018, up to December 5, 2018 is the former Sheriff, BJ Barnes Index Numbers.

Guilford County Sheriff’s Crime Index increased +9% from 2018 to 2019. The increase includes a total change of 104 reported crimes reported in 2019 over 2018. The most significant change was property crimes, Burglary increasing by 67 reports while Larcenies by 15, and Motor Vehicle Theft by 19 reports.

An agency can explain away these increases by simply stating if you divide these numbers by how many days are in a year its very little change. However if you are the victim of a crime, this explanation has little resolve or meaning. Citizens expect transparency of your numbers, and what steps are being made to decrease the crime in a particular area. Community relations is as important as an increase in crime reports.y

The 2020  SBI Crime Index Report has posted for year 2020. This Crime Index is for the Unincorporated areas of Guilford County. The Index indicates a 4% decrease in “overall” crime . But let’s examine the actual meaning of this decrease: Property Crimes accounted for the overall decrease, this includes theft, Burglary, Arson. (Crimes NOT related to crimes against a person.) These property crimes would be expected to drop for 2020 while a large portion of the population was working from home, or home with their children while schools were not in session. Burglary and thefts would be expected to be lower.

However, Violent crime did increase. Rape, Robbery, and Murder all saw an increase in 2020. The rate of change may not seem significant when comparing to Greensboro or High Point rates. The lower number is lower because of the concentration of population- the population in the unincorporated areas are not as condensed as in certain areas Greensboro or High Point. Murder indicates a total increase of 2 additional murders, Rape 3 additional, and Aggravated Assaults moved to 12 additional above 2019 in the unincorporated areas.

I hope this explains how crime rates are reported. You can also go to the SBI website and review all the reported crime rates in North Carolina. Be familiar with what is happening in your community.