Entering the third month of 2013, crime in North Baltimore continues at a pace slower than last year’s numbers.
Baltimore police are reporting sharp drops in shootings, forcible rapes and burglaries in comparison to the same time period in 2012. Burglaries, a constant problem in the area, are down by 81 percent so far.
Although some crimes are outpacing last year, recent arrests or the rare nature of an incident make police hopeful those statistics will also drop.
Homicides are up by one during the same time last year, but at a recent event in the Northern District Maj. Sabrina Tapp-Harper told residents that can be attributed to a murder-suicide in Pen Lucy in February.
“Those are some of the things that create more of a challenge for law enforcement. We really do try to be proactive in these types of cases but you know, unfortunately, sometimes they’re can be tragic ends to those cases," Tapp-Harper said last week.
Robberies are up by 18 percent overall from the same time last year. Much of that can be attributed to a 143 percent increase in commercial robberies in the district. There have also been five more street robberies in that time.
But police believe the arrest of three men in February who allegedly robbed 24-area convenience stores will cause a drop in the number of commerical robberies.
| Crime | 2012 Total | 2012 Year to Date | 2013 |
| Homicide | 24 | 2 | 3 |
| Shootings | 35 | 8 | 3 |
| Forcible Rape | 33 | 6 | 1 |
| Robbery | 455 | 66 | 78 |
| Aggravated Assault | 398 | 58 | 47 |
| Burglary | 1,027 | 147 | 81 |
*Comstsat statistics updated through March 2.