Overall crime in Seattle up 9 percent in 2014 over '13; auto thefts, car prowls account for 90% of increase

 

SEATTLE -- Overall crime in Seattle increased 9 percent in 2014 compared with the previous year, the Seattle Police Department's year-end statistics showed Thursday.

Year-end citywide numbers released by the department show 44,419 crimes reported overall in 2014, compared with 40,697 during the same time period last year, an increase of roughly 3,700 crimes, or 9 percent.

Car prowls and auto thefts account for roughly 90 percent of the overall increase. There were 20,708 crimes in those two categories this year compared to 17,334 last year, up 3,374.

In terms of violent crimes, there were 26 homicides in 2014 compared to 23 in 2013. There were 128 rapes reported, compared to 101 the prior year. (In 2012, there were 121 rapes reported.) The report shows 2,259 aggravated assaults, compared to 1,972 the prior year.