New Port Richey Saw Drop in Major Crime Last Year

Major crimes reported in New Port Richey and Pasco County fell last year, according to statistics released this week by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The New Port Richey Police Department recorded 1,057 index crimes in 2010, 9 percent fewer than those reported in 2009, according to the state’s annual Uniform Crime Report. Indexed crimes include murders, rapes, burglaries, aggravated assault, robberies larcenies and motor vehicle thefts.   

The city crime rate fell by 7.9 percent, to 6,507 crimes per 100,000 residents.

And the  , led by Chief Jeffrey Harrington since the summer of 2010, has a clearance rate that is 10.3 percent higher than the state average. The state average is 24.7 percent. New Port Richey’s, which measures cases closed or solved, is 35 percent.

Total major crimes reported in Pasco County fell to 17,566 in 2010. In 2009, they totaled 19,313. 

Major crimes reported to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office totaled 14, 065 in 2010, 5.2 percent less than 2009.

The city and county statistics follow the state’s trend. The state’s major crimes are the lowest they’ve been in 40 years, Gov. Rick Scott announced when Uniform Crime Report Data was released Tuesday, April 26.  Violent crime (murder, forcible sex offenses, robbery and aggravated assault) fell 10.1 percent. Property crimes (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) fell 6 percent.

New Port Richey’s only major crime stats to rise in 2010 were its burglaries and motor vehicle thefts. All major crimes reported to the Sheriff's Office fell.

The following is a breakdown of the Uniform Crime Report statisticss for 2010. New Port Richey has roughly 16,244 residents, according to the report.

Crimes reported in 2010, New Port Richey Police Department

• Murder:  0                                     
• Rape: 10
• Robbery: 40
• Aggravated Assault: 114
• Burglary: 353
• Larceny: 501
• Motor Vehicle Theft: 37

Crimes reported in 2010, Pasco County Sheriff's Office

• Murder: 8
• Rape: 76
• Robbery: 321
• Aggravated Assault: 887
• Burglary: 3,673
• Larceny: 8,504
• Motor vehicle theft: 596