St. Louis County crime numbers drop to lowest in 41 years

The number of serious crimes in areas served by the St. Louis County Police has dropped to the lowest it has been in 41 years, according to the St. Louis County Police Department.

Index crime statistics comparing 2010 to 2011 in unincorporated St. Louis County and the municipalities served by St. Louis County officers show an overall reduction of 2.4 percent. The lowest number of crimes reported by the St. Louis County Police Department in the past 41 years was in 1971. The 2011 report represents the third year in a row of overall crime reduction.

There were 17 homicides reported in both 2010 and 2011. The number of rapes decreased 10 percent, robbery decreased 0.7 percent, and aggravated assault decreased 5.3 percent. Arson decreased 3.5 percent, larceny decreased by 3.1 percent and motor vehicle theft decreased by 20.7 percent. Burglary showed the only increase at 7.2 percent, due mostly to scrap metal thefts from vacant homes and buildings, police said.