Rash of robberies an aberration in city crime

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The publicity over the unprecedented rash of robberies in Springfield last year may have created the impression that the city is in the midst of a nasty wave of serious crime.|ret||ret||tab|

But there is no evidence yet to support such a notion.|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield is certainly not without its public safety problems. But in the 1990s, the growing city also enjoyed a time of stability in terms of major crime reported to police. (See table.)|ret||ret||tab|

The standard measure of a city's crime rate shows that, with the exception of a rise in motor vehicle theft, Springfield experienced no significant change in the other categories during the 10-year period. In fact, there were fewer total reported major crimes in 1999 than in 1990, the record shows.|ret||ret||tab|

That is little comfort to the store clerks who have looked down the barrel of a robber's pistol, or seen the glint of a bandit's brandished knife. Indeed, they have more reason than ever to be concerned. |ret||ret||tab|

According to official Police Department figures, there were 199 robberies reported to police as of September 2000, and with continuing incidents police are concerned the final tally could be double the 124 robberies reported for all of 1999.|ret||ret||tab|

But judging from the historical landscape, the Year of the Robberies is an aberration, and police and others hope it stays that way.|ret||ret||tab|

"This victimization of people is not good," said Maj. Steve Ijames of the Springfield Police Department, referring to the upsurge in robberies and concern about whether the situation will change for the better. |ret||ret||tab|

Still, he said, "You would have a hard time finding a community this size as safe a place to live as this one."|ret||ret||tab|

Adds Mike Carlie, professor of sociology and anthropology at Southwest Missouri State University, "Springfield has one of the lowest serious crime rates of any community its size in the United States."|ret||ret||tab|

That characteristic is an important factor in Springfield's ability to attract new business and industry, said Jim Anderson, president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. In sizing up Springfield as a place to locate, manufacturers and businesses consider public safety a significant part of the picture, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

"Because technology makes it possible for many businesses to go more places today, quality of life is more important than ever," Anderson said.|ret||ret||tab|

Perhaps the relatively low crime rate is one of the things that contributed to Springfield's making a recent list of the top 50 small metropolitan areas in which to start and grow a business.|ret||ret||tab|

The ranking, in which Springfield placed 32nd, was published in the December issue of Inc. magazine. The list came from the 2000 edition of "Entrepreneurial Hot Spots: The Best Places in America to Start and Grow a Business," published by Cognetics Inc., an economic research firm in Waltham, Mass.|ret||ret||tab|

What accounts for Springfield's relatively favorable serious-crime rate during the past decade?|ret||ret||tab|

A strong work ethic and low unemployment help out, Ijames said.|ret||ret||tab|

A small racial and ethnic minority population and lack of high-density housing are other factors, Carlie said. Where there is heavier concentration of minorities, and the discrimination that goes with it, poverty is higher, people are angrier and crime flourishes, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

When the media report a city's crime rate, the data most likely comes from the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report. It is a hefty compilation of statistics that is considered the standard source book of reported major crimes and their trends in the United States.|ret||ret||tab|

The key section is the crime index for cities with populations of 10,000 and greater. It contains the numbers for eight major crimes known to police: murder and non-negligent homicide; forcible rape; robbery; aggravated assault; burglary; larceny/theft; motor vehicle theft; and arson.|ret||ret||tab|

The figures for Springfield show variations from year to year starting in 1990, but no upward trend over the long term, except for the relatively steep rise in motor vehicle theft. However, unlike crimes against people, such as robbery and murder, car theft seldom makes the headlines.|ret||ret||tab|

Within the Uniform Crime Report, there is a glaring oddity in Springfield's population numbers. The figures show a steady rise to an estimated population of more than 153,000 in 1997, then a significant drop of 8,000 the next year. |ret||ret||tab|

The FBI says that, in preparation for the 2000 census, the Census Bureau revised its estimate methodology, which produced the apparent sharp drop in population. This seems to indicate that previous figures were not accurate.|ret||ret||tab|

One of the methods frequently used to gauge the crime rate, is basing it on the number of reported incidents per 100,000 people. In that regard, Springfield's figure was 8,932 in 1990, and last year it was 7,997.|ret||ret||tab|

But there are important cautions in drawing conclusions involving trends, comparisons and rankings when using the raw data, the FBI points out.|ret||ret||tab|

"These rankings lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses, which often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting cities and counties along with their residents," the UCR states.|ret||ret||tab|

For instance, differences in demographics, culture, economy, geography and climate from one city to another are influences on the crime rate. |ret||ret||tab|

Other factors are the level of law enforcement, and crime reporting itself.|ret||ret||tab|

"One city may report more crime than a comparable one, not because there is more crime, but rather because its law enforcement agency through proactive efforts identifies more offenses," the UCR said. "Attitudes of the citizens toward crime and their crime reporting practices, especially concerning more minor offenses, have an impact on the volume of crimes known to police."|ret||ret||tab|

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