KC CRIME DROPS

KC crime last year drops by biggest percentage since 2003

By CHRISTINE VENDEL
The Kansas City Star

Reported crime in Kansas City dropped 5 percent last year, the biggest percentage decline since 2003, according to statistics released Tuesday.

"That's pretty good," Deputy Chief Rachel Whipple told police board members. "This is yet another decline."

In 2003, crime dropped 7 percent.

Broken down by category:

*Reported violent crime fell 3 percent.

*Property crimes fell 6 percent.

Those crimes also dropped across the country last year, but in smaller percentages than in Kansas City, according to preliminary data collected by the FBI. The national figures for the first six months of 2007 showed a 1.8 percent decline in violent crime and 2.6 percent drop in property crime.

In Kansas City, robbery was one of the few crimes that saw an increase - a 5 percent uptick.

The Central and Metro patrol divisions recorded the largest increase in robberies, but police noticed no particular patterns responsible.

Though overall violent crime and homicides declined in 2007, drive-by shootings rose for the fifth year in a row. The city recorded 205 last year, a 51 percent increase from 2006. The shootings killed 16 people last year and injured 134.

To reach Christine Vendel, call 816-234-4438 or send e-mail to cvendel@kcstar.com