Milwaukee Police Chief Flynn discusses 2011 year-end crime numbers

Violent crime in Milwaukee decreased 23 percent since 2007, and there were more than 25,000 fewer crime victims. Overall crime continues a downward trend, but Milwaukee Police are staying vigilant on those crime categories that showed an increase in 2011 over the previous year. Here are some highlights: Homicide decreased 9.5 percent in 2011 from 2010, down 18 percent since 2007 We continue to emphasize the risk factors associated with the crime of homicide, including illegally possessing a firearm, dealing drugs and being a gang member. Both suspects and victims have been found to have significant arrest histories. The 20-year average of homicides from 1988-2011 is 127. But from 2008-2011 we saw that number decrease to 81 -- a 36 percent reduction over four years Arguments/fights are the leading types of homicides There was an 8 percent increase in robbery in 2011 from 2010 -- although it did gradually decline throughout last year. A large spike of 487 robberies in November skewed the numbers for all of 2011. MPD moved assets to address the problem, bringing down the December total robberies to 172 Good news is an increase in robbery arrests -- increase of 12 percent from 993 people in 2007 to 1115 in 2011 A trend of a more youthful offender is emerging -- and a more violent first-time offender. 30 percent of robbery arrests in 2011 were juveniles. More juveniles were arrested for robbery than for burglary. There has been an uptick in burglaries and auto thefts. Scrap metal prices reached a historic high in March 2011 of $4.50 per pound for copper -- translated into scrap metal burglaries, there were 794 burglaries and 918 thefts reported in which recyclable metal was targeted by thieves. Estimated total value was $4 million. The thieves target abandoned and foreclosed homes. MPD formed a Metal Theft Abatement Team, partnering with DNS, DCD, City Attorney, District Attorney, Department of Corrections. The team targets repeat offenders, develops crime prevention strategies, engages with businesses to encourage responsible business practices. In the past three months, Milwaukee Police arrested nine suspects for towing stolen motor vehicles to salvage yards. Suspects made tens of thousands of dollars for the stolen cars they sold as scrap. Crime analysis found 13 percent of stolen autos were scrapped; 24 percent of stolen autos were not recovered, suggesting they were also scrapped. Today's good news is violent crime has dropped 23 percent since 2007 -- and total crime is down 21 percent in that five-year period. "Data and analysis drives our personnel deployments but also helps us solve problems because we understand what's behind the numbers," Chief Edward A. Flynn said. "Good crime analysis allows us to explain to Milwaukee what is driving the crime rate and how to prevent it."