Crime is down in Fall River in almost every area, but one category has skyrocketed

Despite some public perception, major crimes in Fall River are down in almost every category, however, one crime in particular has risen sharply and a second has seen a marked increase.

According to a mid-year-report issued by the City of Fall River Police Department, 1,054 part A crimes (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson) were committed in Fall River which is a decrease from 1,083 part A crimes committed during the same time period in 2020. Violent crimes showed an increase of 26.32% whereas property crimes showed a decrease of 13.99%. The violent crime increase is caused by a marked increase in aggravated assaults.

Halfway through the year, the FRPD investigated 33 robberies, a 29.79% decrease for the same time period in 2020. Of the 33 robberies, there were 25 where the robbery committed was person-to-person whereas there were eight robberies of a commercial business. Most of the person-to-person robberies involved drug transactions.

In the first half of 2021, police responded to 333 incidents that resulted in at least one aggravated assault charge, a 41.70% increase from 2020. 706 assaults overall were reported from January to June.

During the first six months of the year, the Fall River Police Department investigated 209 burglaries which is a 12.92% decrease from 2020.

Over the last three years, reported larcenies has continued to drop. From 2020, larcenies have gone down 10.07%.

From January 1 to June 30 of this year, seven fire incidents were reported that led to at least one arson charge and a 65% decrease.

Reported motor vehicle thefts in the first half of the year have been cut in half from 126 in 2017 to a gradual decline each year that saw 62 in 2021. Mopeds/scooters were #1 in thefts with 14. Hondas and Fords tied at 8 a piece.

For the first six months of the year, drug arrests hit a high of 350 in 2019, to 322 in 2020, to 209 in 2021, a decrease of 35.09% from 2020.

Prostitution arrests are also on a continued decline from 44 in 2018 to 8 in 2021.

Confirmed shots fired incidents have seen a notable increase from 17 in the first half of 2020 to 32 this year.

The number of domestic violence calls for service has been decreasing each year since 2018. In 2021, there were a total of 1,543 domestic violence calls for service, a 4.93% decrease from the previous year.

FRPD saw nearly 88 calls to service per day on average, a slight increase from 85 in 2020.