Crimes against persons and property—or total Part I offenses—declined for the fifth consecutive year in metropolitan Washington, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Annual Report on Crime and Crime Control. The report was presented today to the COG Board of Directors and is based on crime incidents reported by law enforcement agencies from across the region for 2017.

According to the report, there were 5,482 fewer criminal offenses in the region in 2017 than in 2016, a 4.8 percent decrease. Despite population growth in the region, overall crime has dropped by 30.3 percent in metropolitan Washington over the last ten years.

Crimes against property in 2017 were lower in every category than in 2016. Burglary decreased by 13 percent, larceny by 2.3 percent, and motor vehicle theft by 6.4 percent. Public safety personnel credit the decrease in crimes against property in part due to safety campaigns. For example, they have encouraged individuals who arrange in-person sales of personal property with unknown online buyers to enhance their awareness and take safety precautions.

Additionally, the report noted that violent crimes against persons were lower in every category compared to 2016, except for rape which increased by 5.5 percent. According to the report, the increase may be a result of greater willingness to report rape to police or due to broadening the categorization of the offense in some jurisdictions. In the other categories for crimes against persons, homicides decreased by 18.4 percent, robbery by 18.3 percent, and aggravated assault by 10.6 percent.

“Much of the progress we have seen over the last year in the decrease in overall crime can be attributed in part to the region’s emphasis on enhancing officer training and education, building trust between officers and the communities they serve, and preventing crime through innovative technologies and information sharing,” said Ron Pavlik, COG Police Chiefs Committee Chairman and Metro Transit Police Chief. “The findings of this annual report speak to the top-notch efforts of the area’s nearly 19,000 law enforcement personnel in making metropolitan Washington a safer place to live and work.”

The findings from the report are used to inform regional law enforcement priorities. In the coming year, the COG Police Chiefs Committee will focus on the opioid epidemic, gang-related violence, weapons, homicide, and unaccompanied minors.

MORE: Annual Report on Crime and Crime Control