New Haven Independent

At this time last year, a staggering increase in shootings had police and neighbors on edge. Shootings had tripled (from 14 to 43) by March. At the mid-year mark, concerns remained: Shootings were up 47 percent over 2006.

Police appear to be reversing that worrisome trend, according to first-quarter statistics released at a news conference at police headquarters Friday.

The year is getting off to a quieter start: A total of 24 people were non-fatally shot this quarter, as opposed to 43 last year.

What’s making the difference? Police Chief Francisco Ortiz said the city has been working more closely with federal prosecutors to take shooters off the streets. Depending on their criminal history, repeat violent offenders can be prosecuted under federal law if they’re found with a gun in their hands.

Ortiz said in 2006, the city utilized federal prosecution for gun crimes far less, putting only a handful of offenders away. In the past six months, federal prosecution has helped the city take 40 shooters off the streets.

While shootings are falling off from last year’s alarming levels, detectives are coming across great difficulty solving them. In this year’s 24 shootings, only 3 suspects have been caught.

The solvability rate “is a low number, not one that we’re typically proud of,” Ortiz admitted. Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. (at left in top photo alongside Chief Ortiz) said witnesses often refuse to speak up because they themselves have been involved in other shootings.

“It’s a challenge for us that needs more attention, and one that needs more figuring out,” the mayor said.

A total three people have been killed, all by gun violence, as opposed to zero by this time last year.

Cat Burglars On the Prowl

Overall, violent crime (rape, murder, robbery, aggravated assault) is down by 12 percent over last year. Despite that good news, DeStefano said he’s worried about an opposite trend in property crimes.

Burglaries have shot up by 31 percent this year, from 311 to 408 during the first quarter.

“This burglary thing is a real pain in the butt for the department and for residents,” DeStefano said. The good news was that police have caught a total 71 suspects for these break-ins, a high percentage for the department.

The prowlers have typically broken into businesses at night, and homes and garages during the day. The East Shore has been hit especially hard by residential break-ins.

Fair Haven saw more than its share of cat burglars, who tiptoe on rooftops at night, then slip in through a skylight or roof vent. A lot of the businesses didn’t have alarms, and the buildings were connected to adjacent structures, making it easier to break in. With crimes reported as much as 24 hours later, catching the thieves wasn’t easy.

Lt. Luiz Casanova, the Fair Haven district manager, joined with the police burglary and robbery unit to tackle the problem. The team made a half-dozen arrests in the first few weeks of January, which has helped the problem, Ortiz said.

Ortiz said the suspects are often drug addicts looking for loot to finance their next fix.

DeStefano reckoned the burglary spike is a sign of tough economic times. With foreclosure rates up by 80 percent over the last year, it’s clear city residents are feeling the economic pinch, he said.

While burglaries aren’t a direct result of foreclosures, they can be seen as “a general reflection of the stresses people are feeling economically,” the mayor said.

New Haven remains one of the few departments in the country that do not report audited crime statistics to the FBI. Ortiz said with new records clerks in place, the department hopes to catch up and start reporting audited stats by the end of 2008.

Here’s the full list of (unaudited) figures for the first quarter of 2008 (versus 2007):

Violent crimes:
Murder: 3 (up from 0)
Rape: 12 (up from 10)
Robbery: 138 (down from 170)
Aggravated Assault: 196 (down from 217)
Total violent crimes: 349 (down from 397)

Property crimes:
Burglary: 408 (up from 311)
Larceny: 1,000 (up from 923)
MV Theft: 299 (even from 299)
Total property crimes: 2,056 (up from 1,930)