Overall crime in the City of Bloomington fell by about seven percent last year. In the Town of Normal it went up about four percent. But, Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner says year to year swings are not a good sign post. Bleichner says the five year trend has Normal down about four percent. He says there are ebbs and flows from year to year. Bloomington's result last year is significantly under the five year trend.
In Normal, sex crimes rose last year on what Bleichner suspects is better reporting of sexual assaults. There were 52 sex crimes of all categories last year in Normal. In Bloomington that category was up slightly at 51 sex assaults reported.
Bloomington had its first homicide free year since 1997 last year. Normal likewise had no murders.
Aggravated batteries were down in Bloomington and steady in Normal. Robberies rose significantly in Bloomington and declined slightly in Normal. But in both cities the five year trend is steady for robberies.
Bloomington saw a spike in robberies last year. Normal saw a jump in vehicle burglaries. Bleichner says police pay attention to fluctuations month to month and year to year. He says that allowed them to identify three groups of juveniles who were targeting unlocked vehicles for burglaries and to make arrests.
