Sheboygan, WI (WHBL) - A preliminary, 2014 statistical crime report, obtained by WHBL News shows that Part 1 crimes are down in Sheboygan, with the exceptions of; aggravated assault, rape, and arson.
Part 1 crimes, or index crimes, are described as the top eight offenses reported to law enforcement agencies, and are used to gauge the scope of crime problems in a particular area. The eight categories are; murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, car theft, and arson.
Data released by the Sheboygan Police Department shows that despite a surge in armed robberies in Sheboygan toward the end of 2014, overall, robbery is down roughly 23%, compared to five years ago. There were 17 robberies reported in 2014, whereas, the city averaged 22 robberies during the previous five years.
Moreover, the report shows that the murder rate dropped by 50% during the same time span, with only one homicide reported. Also, burglary, theft, and car thefts, all saw steep declines in 2014, respectively, according to the report.
However, the report reveals an alarming spike in the number of arson, and rape cases reported to Sheboygan Police, in 2014. It shows that arson cases increased by 140 %. There were twelve fires reported last year. But, according to Sheboygan Fire Department Deputy Chief Vernon Koch, those numbers are a bit deceiving on the surface. Koch tells WHBL News that the arson spike is attributed to a string of car fires that were all set on the same night last year, possibly by the same individual.
“Seven of those were car fires, (of the twelve), that the police feel may be connected. So when you take those out of the mix, the rest of them were nothing real major, “ Koch says.
Rapes rose by 22%, and aggravated assault rose by 35%.
Sheboygan Police Chief, Christopher Domagalski is expected to release the official, 2014 crime report to the Sheboygan Common Council this week.