The Madison Police Department released annual crime statistics on March 18, showing an increase in area burglaries but a decline in violent crime downtown from 2006 to 2007.
According to the data, burglaries throughout Madison increased 26.6 percent, including both commercial and residential burglaries. The MPD also unveiled a new task force called Blue Net designed to crack down on the number of burglaries.
According to MPD public information officer Joel DeSpain, police identified the trend last year and assigned extra enforcement to monitor the problem. He said the efforts then formed the Blue Net task force of Community Police Teams, patrol officers and detectives.
According to an MPD statement, Blue Net is part of a larger effort to combat crime outbreaks throughout the city. Several decades ago, police established Blue Tent to halt the sex for sale industry downtown, and the Blue Blanket program helped reduce street drug sales throughout the city in the 1990s.
DeSpain said Blue Net will act as a catalyst to help decrease the number of burglaries in Madison as well as surrounding communities.
The burglary problem really isn't just Madison's, it's an increase we're seeing across the state and the region,"" DeSpain said.
Electronic items, such as laptops and iPods, are among the most commonly stolen belongings, DeSpain said. He advised students living downtown to conceal their electronics when not in use and to write down the serial numbers of laptops so stolen ones can be returned if recovered by police.
Despite the increase in burglaries throughout the city, the statistics show a decline in violent crimes downtown.
According to MPD data, the number of violent crimes, which include murder, rape, aggravated assault and robbery, reported in the Central District dropped from 253 in 2006 to 178 in 2007. Police said programs like the Downtown Safety Initiative could be responsible for the decrease.
""We believe that at least part of the reason for that is the special emphasis in the downtown area particularly trying to deal with crimes that were being committed in and around bar time and alcohol consumption,"" DeSpain said.
