Lee County, state report lower crime numbers
Both unincorporated Lee County and the state of Florida experienced a drop in crime in 2021.
The city of Cape Coral saw an increase in index crimes — crimes reported to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement — but, when adjusted for population growth, saw a tick downward as well.
Recently, the FDLE released its annual Uniform Crime Report, which includes statistics based on data from law enforcement agencies statewide.
According to the UCR, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office — which covers unincorporated Lee — recorded 5,440 total crimes in 2021 compared to 5,562 in 2020, a 2.2 percent decrease year-over-year. The 2021 crime rate was 1,126.2 — a 6.1 percent decline from the 1,199.4 rate in 2020.
The FDLE reported that the total crimes recorded in Florida in 2021 hit a record 50-year low.
Statewide, the UCR shows that 427,524 crimes were reported compared to 466,048 in 2020 — an 8.3 percent drop. The 2021 crime rate was 1,952.3 — a 9.5 percent decline from the 2,158 rate in 2020.
The FDLE noted that violent and property crimes dipped in 2021, as well as domestic violence.
“Two-hundred thirty-nine Florida law enforcement agencies submitted summary-based crime stats covering 57.5 percent of the population,” agency officials reported in a prepared statement.
Crime data is from reporting agencies; not all agencies report.
“Not all agencies submitted summary-based crime statistics because they are transitioning to Florida Incident-Based Reporting System (FIBRS),” the FDLE stated. “Twenty-nine agencies have transitioned to incident-based uniform crime reporting, while at least 140 are in the process of transitioning.”
Officials reported that agencies can backfill previous data as they fully transition.
“Incident-based crime statistics provide more robust and dynamic crime reporting,” the FDLE explained. “FIBRS collects 56 more offense categories than summary-based reporting, including more detailed victim, offender, arrestee and property data on each crime occurrence.”
The incident-based crime statistics will be published quarterly, with the next report in February.
As for unincorporated Lee, the UCR indicates that the LCSO recorded 17 murders and 223 rapes in 2021, compared to 22 and 179 — respectively — for the prior year. In 2021, there were 206 robberies and 935 aggravated assaults reported versus 217 robberies and 949 aggravated assaults during 2020.
For the LCSO, the number of burglaries dropped from 677 to 567 in 2021, while motor vehicle thefts decreased from 489 to 456 in 2021. However, larcenies rose slightly from 3,029 to 3,036 in 2021.
The Cape Coral Police Department recorded three murders and 34 rapes in 2021, compared to one and 18, respectively, for the prior year. In 2021, there were 30 robberies and 250 aggravated assaults reported versus 20 robberies and 216 aggravated assaults during 2020.
For the CCPD, the number of burglaries increased from 305 to 415 in 2021, while motor vehicle thefts decreased from 133 to 105 in 2021. Larcenies decreased from 1,692 to 1,683 in 2021.
Overall, the city, which saw its population increase from 187,307 in 2020 to 201,554 in 2021 showed a 5.7% increase in crimes reported to the county and municipal date base. It saw a 1.8% decrease in crime per 100,000 population.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI, please email trepecki@breezenewspapers.com