Royal Oak Has “Dramatic Drop” In Crime, Police Say

Royal Oak police announced a nearly 48 percent drop in burglaries, as part of the department’s release of its 2017 crime statistics. The drop in burglaries helped create an overall 15 percent decrease in serious crimes in Royal Oak, part of a downward trend over the last ten years, police announced Monday.

“The numbers compared to last year are very good,” Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O’Donohue said. “But what is really incredible is the dramatic change since 2007. Royal Oak police report an 82 percent reduction in burglaries, 77 percent reduction in robberies, 62 percent reduction in larcenies, and overall crime has dropped 47 percent in the last 10 years,” O’Donohue added.

Police and city hall credit a public safety millage passed in 2012, in part, for the decrease in major crimes in the area. Royal Oak police marks its 100th anniversary this year, so the figures come at a time already marked by celebrations in the department.

“While none of us can ever be satisfied with any level of crime, you cannot dispute these statistics are extraordinary,” Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier said. “We owe much to the hard-working men and women of our police department for sticking to their core values and mission - ‘Keeping Royal Oak Safe.’”

Residents will be able to review the annual police report containing operational data and crime stats, among other items, when it’s officially released this spring. The data released Monday show over 60 percent drops in aggravated assaults, motor vehicle thefts, and larceny between 2007 and 2017. While many numbers remained flat or showed small declines between 2016 and 2017, burglaries decreased by over 47% in 2017, when there were 45 reported and 2016, which saw 86 burglaries in town.