2008 Crime Statistics

SNAPSHOT ANALYSIS: Major Crimes were down in 2008 by 4% overall when compared with the same time period in 2007 and down 17% when compared with 2006.   Violent Crimes were 6% lower than one year ago and Property Crimes were down 3%.  Notable decreases were found in vehicle thefts, down 36% and aggravated assaults, down 17%. 

Among Violent Crimes, year-to-year increases were posted in homicides, rapes and robberies compared to 2007. Among Property Crimes, there were year-to-year increases in burglaries and larcenies compared to 2007. The burglary increase was primarily in business break-ins.

For the 2 year period, 2006-2008, all Violent, Property and Major Crimes showed a double digit downward trend, but most of the decrease was experienced in 2007.

ADDRESSING CRIME TRENDS: As the Department addresses crime trends in the city, it will be assisted by the new officers that have been added to the force already and are now completing their training.  By the beginning of summer 2009, an additional 45-50 officers will be deployed.  After hiring 111 new officers in 2008, the Department will be hiring an additional 80 officers during 2009.
[Find out more about SPD staffing and Neighborhood Policing] 

Other steps being taken by the Department include adopting a task force approach to targeted crimes and crime areas and active participation in the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative taking place in the Central Area, Southeast and Southwest Seattle. 

CITYWIDE DATA:

Citywide Major Crimes(Links to XLS )

Citywide Major Crimes(Links to PDF )

YEAR END DATA SUMMARY:

The table below provides a summary of major crimes for the 2008, compared with the same period in 2007 and 2006:

Major Crimes in Seattle
Year-End 2008
Compared with Year-End 2006 & 2007

IMPORTANT NOTES:

More about the new records system

More about changed beat boundaries

More about police staffing

CONSIDERATIONS:

The Seattle Police Department cautions against using crime and/or other police data to make decisions/comparisons regarding the safety of an area or the amount of crime.

Crime statistics provided represent only police services where a report was made and do not include other calls for police service.

The data do not reflect or certify "safe" or "unsafe" areas. When looking at crime statistics it is important to consider geography (business vs. residential), and major institutions that exist within the boundaries (i.e. hospitals, schools, parks, etc.) of the reporting areas.

Data will sometimes reflect where the crime was reported versus where the crime occurred.

Areas with a high volume of foot traffic or that are more densely populated may have more reported crime. This does not necessarily mean more crime occurs there, but that more crime is reported there.