(The Center Square) — The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office reported an overall decrease in crime in Bossier Parish compared to this time last year, with a 6% drop in total cases.
A public records request obtained from the Bossier Sheriff’s Office shows 6% fewer cases than last year. The office reported 396 cases this year, while last year had 421 total cases.
The Center Square spoke with Public Information Officer Neil Johnston at Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office about the overall decrease the parish is seeing.
“We are proud of these year-to-date statistics. They are a direct result of proactive policing, strong community partnerships, and the ongoing commitment of the men and women of the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office,” Johnston said.
Homicides are still at zero as they were last year, and rape cases show no change, with 21 cases year-to-date. The office reported one fewer in May than last year.
Johnston said while there are 21 reported cases, these are not instances of violent situations happening in the parish. The rape offense category consists of all reports received by the department, including misdemeanor sexual battery or calls regarding inappropriate behavior needing investigation.
Bossier Parish’s violent crime index showed a 1% increase, however, this is due to a slight increase in simple assault cases since last year and a decrease in intimidation and aggravated assault. The office reported 178 simple assault cases at the end of May compared to 169 for the same time last year. There were 32 reported cases in May of last year but 39 this year, causing a slight increase in the violent crime index.
Despite a slight increase in simple assault cases, there have been no robbery or aggravated burglary cases reported for this year, a step forward from last year when there were four year-to-date robberies.
Compared to last months year-to-date report, crime is still decreasing. In April, the parish had a 3% increase in violent crime which has since dropped to around 1%.
Property crime saw a significant decrease from last year, dropping 16% overall. Property crime consists of burglary, purse snatching, shoplifting, theft, theft from auto, auto access theft and auto theft. Each of these offenses decreased since this time last year. There was a reported 29% decrease in burglaries, a 4% decrease in general theft, a 42% decrease in theft from auto and a 53% decrease in auto theft.
Specific stats for the year show zero homicides, 21 rape cases, zero robberies and aggravated burglaries, 178 simple assault cases, 13 intimidation cases, 43 aggravated assault cases, 20 burglaries, zero purse snatchings, four reports of shoplifting, 92 general thefts, 11 theft from auto, zero theft from building and eight auto thefts.
Unauthorized use is slightly up, with two more reported cases than last year but only one of those is from May.
These reported numbers are for Bossier Parish and do not include crime within the city limits of Plain Dealing, Benton, Bossier City and Haughton.