Coral Gables' crime rate drops; burglaries up

By Carli Teproff / The Miami Herald

Overall crime in Coral Gables -- ranging from homicide to shoplifting -- was down 5 percent in 2009, although there was a double-digit jump in burglaries, according to statistics released Friday.

In 2009, there were 2,199 crimes committed in Coral Gables, down from 2,308 incidents in 2008, according to the Annual Uniform Crime Report.

"We have done a lot of good work this year. We are hoping to continue to see a decrease,'' said interim Coral Gables Police Chief Richard Naue.

Violent crimes -- including homicide, committed and attempted rape, sodomy and aggravated assault -- were down 14 percent from 116 incidents in 2008 to 100 in 2009.

In 2009 there was one homicide, involving a domestic related murder-suicide not far from city hall in October. In 2008, there weren't any homicides

"I think we have done a great job of targeting violent crime,'' Naue said.

Certain nonviolent crimes, however, have seen a marked increase. Crimes of the pocketbook -- involving burglary, larceny, pocket-picking, shoplifting, and bicycle theft -- have all increased in 2009. Burglary involves breaking into a structure or dwelling to remove goods; larceny involves theft.

Burglaries went from 324 in 2008 to 374 in 2009, a 15 percent increase. Pick-pocketing jumped to 13 cases in 2009, from 6 in 2008, a 117 percent jump. Bicycle thefts rose from 58 in 2008 to 86 in 2009.

Overall, nonviolent crimes dropped 4 percent, from 2,192 in 2008 to 2,099 in 2009.

Crime mapping programs, marked and unmarked task forces and ongoing education campaigns have helped in both categories, Naue said.

"Working with other agencies has also helped,'' he said. "Crime sees no boundaries.''

The city did see a 22 percent hike in total burglaries, from 379 in 2009 to 462 in 2009.

Naue said that a bad economy has contributed to the rise in "crimes of opportunity,'' including stealing from an unlocked car or home or shoplifting.

"People are doing things they never dreamed of just to put food on the table,'' he said. "We just have to continue to be proactive.''

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