The recent crimes statistics compiled by the FBI had some encouraging news.
The good news: There were only two homicides listed in the paper’s coverage area for 2015. One in Jacksonville and one in Lonoke.
Austin, followed by Cabot, were the safest places in 2015 in The Leader’s coverage area. Jacksonville was the most dangerous, but still safer than Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Austin, population 2,785, reported only eight violent crimes, along with 51 property crimes, giving it a rate of 17 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Cabot, population 25,434, with 47 violent crimes and 520 property crimes, had rate of 33 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Jacksonville, with 28,902 residents, recorded 218 violent crimes last year and 1,395 property crimes for a rate of 56 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Violent crimes include murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.
Sherwood, with a population of 30,572, had 140 violent crimes reported (113 of those were aggravated assaults) and 1,181 property crimes for an average of 43 offenses per 1,000 residents.
Beebe, population 8,138, had 27 violent crimes (23 of them were aggravated assaults) and 242 property crimes for a rate of 33 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Ward, with a population of 4,747, had 44 violent crimes and 109 property crimes, which worked out to 32 crimes per 1,000.
Lonoke, with 4,265 residents, had 13 violent crimes (including one homicide) in 2015 and had 126 property crimes for an average of 33 crimes per 1,000.
Carlisle, population 2,198, had seven violent crimes (five of them aggravated assaults) and 61 property crimes for a rate of 31 crimes per thousand. It’s a mixed bag, but it could be worse.
