TEMPLE, TX — The City of Temple experienced a 12 percent decrease in total crime in 2019, including a 16 percent drop in violent crime.
Violent crimes include murder, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault. Murder decreased in 2019 by 57 percent, sexual assault by 26 percent and robbery by 31 percent. Aggravated assault increased by four percent.
"With the growth that our city is currently experiencing, the fact that we saw a decrease in total crime speaks to the hard work and dedication of our members, and the support and assistance from our community," Interim Police Chief Jim Tobin said. "It is encouraging to see their hard work pay off and we will continue our efforts to drive these numbers even lower in the coming year."
Total property crimes also decreased by 12 percent. Burglary of a building decreased by 49 percent and larceny decreased by 10 percent. Residential thefts and vehicle burglaries increased by four and five percent respectively. As such, the department continues to remind residents to lock their doors and secure their property.
"Not all crime can be prevented, but there are measures you can take to reduce your risk of becoming a victim," Tobin said. "Lock your doors, remove valuables from your vehicle and don't leave spare keys in places where they're easily accessible. Be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity."
Temple PD responded to a total of 1,937 instances of violent and property crime combined in 2019. That number is down 12 percent from 2018 and 20 percent from 2017.
