Crime is down in Arlington, the police department announced last night.
According to department statistics, the crime rate — the number of reported crimes per resident — declined by 7.6 percent from 2009 to 2010. The raw number of reported crimes, meanwhile, fell 5.9 percent.
Robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larcenies and vehicle thefts all declined last year. At 29 percent, vehicle thefts saw the greatest year-over-year decline.
The number of reported rapes in Arlington rose in 2010, however. There were 24 forcible rapes reported in 2010, compared to 15 in 2009 — a 60 percent increase. Detectives were able to close 87 percent of rape cases, the department said.
“I am pleased with the dedication of the officers and detectives in Arlington, and all that they have accomplished to make our county safer,” Police Chief Doug Scott said in a statement. “However, we continue to remind citizens to make smart decisions concerning their personal safety, because even one victim is one victim too many.”