VCU’s crime rate rose slightly from 2004 to 2005, but violent crime dropped 10 percent. This runs contrary to the national trend, which saw violent crime grow 2.3 percent.
The Commonwealth Times’ independent analysis of the FBI’s “Crime in the United States” report, released last week, places VCU in the center of Virginia’s colleges and universities in terms of student safety. The report cautions about developing comparisons “because university/college crime statistics are affected by a variety of factors.”
About one in 1,000 VCU students was a victim of violent crime in 2005. Leading the state in violent and overall crime rates was Norfolk State University. The University of Richmond’s high rate of property crime pushed it into second place in overall crime. VCU ranked fifth in violent crime and seventh in overall crime of the 18 schools.
The data showed that violent crime dropped 10 percent, from 31 to 28 incidents, but there were 34 more property crimes. Burglary increased from 12 to 22 incidents, and thefts grew from 542 to 521.
The CT will follow up with further analysis and commentary from police and university officials in the Monday issue.