Crime in Key West dropped over the past six months, when compared to the first half of 2014. Violent crime is down by 26 percent compared to the first six months of 2014, and overall crime is down by 6.2 percent.

Each year the Key West Police Department reports its crime statistics to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. These numbers are compiled for the first six months of the year, and then again for an overall annual tally. These statistics are compiled for the entire state by the FDLE in its Uniform Crime Reporting system.

A drop in robberies and incidents of rape accounted for much of the drop in violent crime. There were just 8 robberies for the first half of 2015, compared to 18 for the first half of 2014. Rapes dropped from 10 for the first half of last year to 4 for the first six months of 2015.

“We’re always cautious about how we look at these mid-year numbers,” said Chief Donie Lee. “After a long downward trend in violent crime nationwide, there is a current uptick. So we’re cautiously happy to see such a dramatic drop locally.”

Burglaries are a bit higher for the first six months of 2015 than they were in 2014. Structural burglaries rose from 91 incidents in 2014 to 102 in 2015. Burglaries of conveyances went up from 49 for the first part of 2014 to 66 this year.

“Burglaries are trending higher,” said Lee, “so we need the community’s help. Please, lock your doors and windows, lock you cars. Help us reduce these crimes of opportunity.”

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