【AL】 Violent crime numbers dropping in unincorporated Jefferson County, sheriff’s office says – Alabama News

Homicides in unincorporated Jefferson County are down 29 percent so far in 2022 compared to the same time period in 2021, according to statistics released Tuesday by the sheriff’s office.

With the exception of car burglaries and car thefts, the majority of crime categories from January through August has decreased over the same time period in 2021, officials said.

The sheriff’s office through the end of August has investigated 15 homicides in 2022, compared to 21 in the same eight months in 2021.

Five of the slayings happened in the Birmingham Division, and 10 in the Bessemer Division. The numbers include investigations done by the sheriff’s office for smaller cities, such as Fairfield and Brighton.

The category of assault saw the highest decline at 38 percent. Deputies have investigated 57 assaults this year, compared to 92 last year.

Robberies have dropped 25 percent, according to the statistics, with deputies investigating 58 robberies in 2022, down from 77 in 2021.

Rapes dropped 18 percent – from 49 to 40 – and burglaries decreased 9 percent, from 456 to 413.

Vehicle burglaries and vehicle thefts have risen during the same time period this year compared to last year.

There have been 450 car break-ins this year compared to 378 last year for a 19 percent increase.

Deputies have worked 253 car thefts, up from 218 in the first eight months of 2021.

In all, the sheriff’s office has investigated 1,286 crimes this year, just slightly less than the 1,291. There is no percentage change in overall crime.

“The efforts to reduce these numbers required a lot of hard work by our personnel and the continued support of our citizens,’’ Sheriff Mark Pettway said. “We are working hard to continue the trend in crime reduction.”