If it seems like crime has gone up recently, that’s because some of it has — according to the city’s latest weekly crime report. The number of murders has jumped by 28 percent citywide compared to this time last year, and 40 percent were drug-or gang-related. Other violent offenses also rose by about 4 percent.
Other crime continues to decrease, overall. Sexual assault has gone down by 4 percent, and domestic violence by 2 percent.
Chief David Brown told the Dallas Morning News that, despite the mid-summer up-tick, our murder rate is equivalent to what it was in 1958 — when our population was half of what it is now. He said most of the violent crime isn’t random, and it’s often criminals against criminals.
Advocate editor Rachel Stone has reported on several disturbing incidents have happened around Oak Cliff in a short time frame. A barbershop owner was gunned down, a 22-year-old was fatally stabbed during a fight on West Jefferson, and local book reviewer Penny Terk was murdered in her home.
To hone in on our council districts, there are slightly different changes across the board, according to the report.
In District 1, which includes the area around the Bishop Arts District, murders are up 75 percent (there were 7 compared to 3 this time last year). Business robberies have jumped 33 percent.
In District 3, to the south and west of the BAD, the murder rate held steady at 8 this year — same as last year. There was a 24 percent increase in robberies of individuals. Sexual assaults are down by about 38 percent.
