Bibb County Sheriff David Davis has announced Uniform Crime Rate totals in Macon-Bibb County for the year 2014.
In Macon-Bibb County, homicides for the year 2014 declined by one, from 17 in 2013 to 16 in 2014. According to combined records from the Macon Police Department and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, homicide rates for all of Bibb County are at an 8 year low. 2006 was the only year in the past ten years that the number of homicides was this low.
Reported rapes for the year 2014 were down by 7. Commercial Robberies decreased by 26. Commercial Burglaries also decreased by 26, while Residential Burglaries were down by 24. Other thefts dropped by 19. There were 27 fewer vehicles reported stolen in 2014 than in 2013.
There were 151 more entering autos and 72 more shopliftings reported in 2014 than in 2013. This illustrates that mostly nonviolent property crime resulted in the greatest numerical increases in crime categories. Entering autos and shopliftings are found to be mostly committed by opportunists.
Reports of aggravated assault increased by 32 and personal robberies rose by 72 reported incidents. Reported aggravated assaults resulted from fist fights, knife fights, beatings from baseball bats or other items, and shootings. Many personal robberies tended to have stemmed from illegal drug activity or persons in areas late at night where drugs were bought or sold.
Arsons increased by 9 from 2013 to 2014. These incidents were mostly vacant structures, trash dumpsters, and vehicles.
Sheriff Davis encourages citizens of Macon-Bibb to stay involved in the fight against crime by joining a Neighborhood Watch or Business Watch group. This community involvement over the past year has helped deputies to solve offenses in all crime categories.