Reported violent crime incidents in Evanston rose 15.6 percent last year. But the overall index crime rate declined 2.5 percent, because of a sharp drop in theft and arson cases.

All categories of violent crime increased:

  • Murders increased from one to two.
  • Criminal sexual assaults rose from 10 to 12.
  • Robberies increased from 135 to 141.
  • Aggravated assault and battery cases increased from 98 to 127.

In the property crime categories:

  • Burglaries increased from 853 to 861.
  • Incidents of theft declined from 1,953 to 1,827.
  • Auto thefts increase from 123 to 137.
  • Arson cases fell from 13 to zero.

Overall crime rates in Evanston have declined nearly 40 percent since 1985.

Bill Smith is the editor and publisher of Evanston Now.

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