Detroit Crime Continues to Be Rampant

January 8, 2013
by The Schwartz Law Group

According to a recent report, Detroit ranked number seven on the list of United States cities having the most burglaries. It notched nearly 16,000 in 2011. Other cities that ranked among those having the highest number of burglaries were Chicago (26,420), Dallas (18,727), Phoenix (18,666) New York (18,159) and Los Angeles (17,264). Topping the list of having the most burglaries was Houston, with 27,459.

Rampant Detroit Crime Continues

With a little over two million burglaries committed, the median take in any given burglary was around $2,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) puts the tab at $4.8 billion for the value of lost property.

A CNBC report showed that the crime rate in Detroit has continued to go down, since the 1970s. This is good news since Detroit has the reputation of a city in an economic decline. However, the data in the report only included the number of burglaries, without considering the number of households or the population of the cities.

If that is considered, the picture is different, as follows:

An FBI report suggested that the number of burglaries per household for Detroit was double what Houston had in 2011.
There were 61 burglaries for every 1,000 Detroit households in 2011 versus 32 for Houston.
There were 23 burglaries for every 1,000 people in Detroit in 2011 versus 13 for Houston.

Insofar as the FBI report and its data for 2011 are concerned, a burglary is a forcible and unlawful entry of any type of home, apartment, building or structure with intent to commit a felony or a theft. This does not include breaking and entering a vehicle to steal.

Detroit also ranked up there with New York, our nation’s largest city, for murders. Murders have risen again for the Motor City in 2012, with a total of 354 as of the end of November outpacing 344 for all of 2011. This is up from 309 murders in 2010 or an increase of approximately 15%.

Detroit crime has gotten so bad that a recent poll revealed that 40% of all Detroit residents intend to move in the next five years.

These statistics are frightening. This means that there are some people out there who have made bad, life changing decisions that could impact your life forever. If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, the criminal law system can be overwhelming. It is very important that you seek advice from an experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney, with a proven track record.

Attorney Steven L. Schwartz started his criminal defense practice over 25 years ago and has handled a wide variety of criminal defense matters, including theft cases. Being a successful criminal attorney and having a wealth of satisfied clients is a family tradition for him. He follows his father, his uncle and his grandfather who was a well-known criminal defense attorney in Detroit for over 50 years.

Let us work for you to seek a dismissal, a not guilty verdict or reduced charges and no jail time.

Other Resources

Detroit listed No. 7 among American cities with most burglaries, MLive News, Article by Khalil AlHajal, January 5, 2013.

Can I Still Get Busted Now That Pot Is Decriminalized? , Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog, December 14, 2012.
Don’t Let A DUI Conviction Ruin Your Life, Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog, December 21, 2012.