While overall crime in Pine Bluff is down almost 34 percent this year compared to a year ago, that does not include the crime that gets the most attention, homicides.
According to the police department’s monthly report, there have been 2,816 total crimes reported from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, compared to 4,249 for the same period in 2022.
Through the first nine months of this year, there have been 22 homicides reported in Pine Bluff, two more than occurred all last year.
That figure includes 5 reported in July 4 in August and 3 in September.
Every other category of crimes against persons and property related crimes were all down in September, compared to September 2022.
Two rapes or attempted rapes were reported in September, three fewer than in September 2022. Three robberies were reported in both September 2022 and 2023. There were 10 fewer aggravated assaults (28) last month compared to September 2022 (38) and six fewer simple assaults (99) than in September 2022 (106).
Commercial burglaries last month increased from 16 to 23 while residential burglaries dropped from 23 to 19. Reported thefts declined from 143 to 128 and motor vehicle thefts from 31 to 18.
For the month, police answered 2,899 calls for service and there were 233 traffic stops. Total dispatched calls for September 29365.
