Roanoke Rapids Interim Police Chief Jeff Hinton Tuesday night presented city council with a snapshot of the city's crime rate, first going over the 2009 to 2010 percentage changes and then a picture of where crime is from January to September of this year, comparing them to the same period last year.

The overall crime rate in the city decreased by 10.4 percent from 2009, Hinton said.

The violent crime rate decreased by 8.5 percent.

The property crime rate — which includes burglaries and larcenies — decreased by 10.6 percent.

June had the most crime while January and February had the least. The burglaries in the city happened most often in the day and occurred at residences.

In presenting the January to September snapshot, Hinton said the murder rate in the city stayed the same, with one during that time period in 2010 — Jonathan Martrice Andino in December — and one thus far this year — Lorenzo Tann Jr. last month.

Rapes decreased from five to two.

Robberies decreased from 23 to 14.

Aggravated assaults decreased from 41 to 25.

Burglaries increased from 178 to 248.

Larceny decreased from from 525 to 502.

Larceny of vehicles increased from 22 to 25.

Arson decreased from five to two.

Drug violations increased from 254 to 315.

Simple assaults decreased from 57 to 53.

“We feel like the numbers are encouraging although we would like them to be all zero,” Hinton told council.

Following up this morning, Hinton said of the numbers, “Obviously it gives feedback that what we've been doing appears to be working some. It also lets us know our shortcomings. As burglaries increase we need to evaluate the tactics we need to use to get those to decrease.”

That may mean increasing patrols in residential areas during the day. “We welcome and appreciate help from neighbors that see strange people or out of place vehicles so we can respond if we're not already in the area.”

Hinton said economics may play a role in the property crimes. “As they (economic conditions) deteriorate, as a general rule, property crimes have a tendency to rise.”