Crime in Maine was down 8.7 percent from 2015 to 2016.
Crime in Maine decreased 8.7 percent during 2016, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety. It is the fifth consecutive year that crime has decreased in Maine for a total decline during the past five years of 38.6 percent. Crime dropped 7.1 percent in 2015, 13 percent in 2014, 8.3 percent in 2013, and 1.5 percent in 2012.
“The fifth consecutive drop in crime is encouraging, but drugs are still the driving force behind most crime in Maine,” said Maine Public Safety Commissioner John Morris. “Drugs still affect all Maine law enforcement, with much of the drugs coming into Maine from out-of-staters affiliated with gangs.”
Increases were reported in rape, aggravated assault, and arson for 2016.
Arson saw the largest increase in crime, up 129.7 percent during 2016 (209 incidents reported for 2016 vs. 91 incidents in 2015). The increase is primarily due to a new reporting system in use by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. Before, any police agency could report arson. Now the State Fire Marshal’s Office, which investigates all cases of arson, will be the sole reporting agency. The value of property damaged by arson fires in 2016 was $3,498,904 vs. $1,568,006 reported for 2015.
Rape incidents reported increased 2.7 percent for 2016. There were 383 rape cases in 2016 vs. 373 reported in 2015. This was the second year that rape cases went up.
Aggravated assaults, which involve serious injury and usually a weapon, increased 9.4 percent for 2016. There were 1,002 aggravated assaults in 2016 vs. 916 incidents in 2015. Aggravated assault also showed an increase in 2015.
All other crime categories went down in 2016.
Robberies decreased 14.5 percent for 2016 (266 robberies in 2016 vs. 311 robberies reported in 2015). Robbery had an increase in 2015.
Burglary decreased 14.6 percent in 2016 (3,991 incidents reported in 2016 vs. 4,675 incidents reported in 2015).
Larceny-theft decreased 9 percent for 2016 (17,104 incidents reported in 2016 vs. 18,801 reported in 2015).
Simple assaults decreased 4.1 percent in 2016 (9,320 incidents reported in 2016 vs. 9,722 incidents in 2015).
Burglary, larceny-theft, and simple assaults have gone down in each of the past five years.
There were 18 homicides investigated in 2016, compared to 23 homicides in 2015.
Motor-vehicle thefts were down 4.3 percent for 2016 (775 stolen vehicles in 2016 vs. 810 stolen vehicles in 2015).
Domestic violence assaults decreased 7.7 percent in 2016 (4,675 incidents reported in 2016 vs. 5,067 incidents in 2015). Domestic violence has gone down in the each of the past four years.
The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence phone number is 866-834-HELP and its website is mcedv.org. The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s phone number is 800-871-7741 and its website is mecasa.org. Both organizations have complete listings of local groups that offer assistance.
Crime in the rural areas showed a decrease of 9.8 percent and crimes reported in cities and towns dropped 8.3 percent.
In the rural areas, patrolled by the Maine State Police and sheriff’s offices, agencies reported a 7.3 percent decrease in crimes. Crimes went up in robbery, rape, and arson. Robberies increased 3.8 percent (27 reported in 2016 vs. 26 reported in 2015). Rape also increased at a rate of 12.7 percent (80 rape incidents reported in 2015 vs. 71 reported in 2015). Arsons also showed an increase with 1,564 arsons in 2016 vs. 15 in 2015.
Urban crimes are from communities with police departments. Agencies reported a 9 percent decrease in crime. Rapes and aggravated assaults increased. Rapes reported in 2016 were up 0.3 percent, with 303 rapes reported for 2016 vs. 302 reported in 2015. Aggravated assaults also showed an increase of 16.3 percent (755 reported incidents in 2016 vs. 649 incidents reported in 2015).
The Uniform Crime Reporting Division at the Maine Department of Public Safety tabulates the crime numbers each year. The numbers are based on reported crimes from local, county, and state law enforcement agencies. The statistics show that 23,748 crime index offenses were reported to police during 2016 compared to 26,000 during 2015 for an overall crime rate decrease of 8.7 percent.
The 23,748 crimes reported in 2016 represent a crime rate of 18 offenses per 1,000 people in Maine. That number compares to the national crime rate of 29 offenses per 1,000 people in 2015.
The total number of adults and juveniles summonsed or cited by police dropped in 2016 for the eighth year in a row. Adult arrests dropped 3.4 percent in 2016 (40,227 arrests reported for 2016 vs. 41,649 arrests reported in 2015). Juveniles arrested or summonsed decreased by 9.2 percent in 2016 (3,222 juveniles arrested for 2016 vs. 3,547 juvenile arrests reported in 2015).
The value of property stolen during 2016 was reported as $17,906,593 compared to $20,346,695 reported in 2015. Police recovered $5,106,200 in stolen property in 2016 vs. $5,691,929 in stolen property during 2015 for a recovery rate of 28.5 percent.
The crime rate for violent crime in Maine continues to be one offense per 1,000 people compared to the national average of 4 per 1,000 people.
Crime in Maine is the annual publication of reported crime statistics from the Uniform Crime Reporting division. Questions about local trends should be directed to police chiefs and sheriffs for detailed local crime statistics.
