MADISON – The Madison Police Department released its year-end crime data for crimes against persons and property. MPD spokesperson Major John Stringer said, in most areas, the City of Madison experienced a decrease in reported crimes against both persons and property.

There were no murders reported for the City of Madison in 2018, but two were reported in 2019. In both of these cases, the offenders and suspects knew each other prior to the murders and narcotics were involved. The Madison Police Department has closed both of these cases with arrests and is moving forward with prosecutions.

Overall crimes against persons were down from 83 in 2018 to 60 in 2019. The categories of rape, robbery, and simple assault also decreased in 2019 compared to 2018. There were four more cases of aggravated assault reported in 2019, up from seven in 2018.

Crimes against property showed an increase by 69 incidents, due to a spike in identity theft, with a decrease in auto theft, burglary to auto, and burglary reports in 2019. Reports of arson increased by two in 2019, up from just one in 2018. Identity theft reports were up from 882 in the previous year to 1050 in calendar year 2019. Most of these cases involved online criminal activity.

Major Stringer said Madison Police made a concentrated effort to have a more visible presence in neighborhoods over the last year, as well as used data regarding previous crime trends in property crimes when scheduling patrols resulting in 197 reports in 2019, down from 236 the previous year. Burglaries to homes and businesses also declined in 2019, with 105 reports taken compared to 142.

“The Madison Police Department continues to partner with our community to prevent and solve crimes that impact the City of Madison,” Major Stringer added. “Resolving quality of life issues are as important our agency as crime fighting. We strive to address quality of life issues before they can become criminal activity.”