2011 Crime Data: Thefts Higher, Violent Crime Lower in Birmingham

The FBI recently released its 2011 Crime in the United States report, and according to the numbers, crime in Birmingham is remaining steady.

More than 430 crimes were reported in Birmingham in 2011 — an overall increase from 2010 though not the worst number from the past four years.

The numbers represent the steady rise and fall of crime in Birmingham from year to year. Violent crimes were down last year in Birmingham, falling from 26 in 2010 to 23 in 2011. Last year's numbers, however, are similar to the historic average: 2008 saw around 21 violent crimes.

In Birmingham, the majority of those violent crimes continue to be aggravated assault. On a good note, the city's murder rate remains at zero for a fourth year in a row, and residents reported no forcible rapes in 2011, down from two in 2010 and one a year in 2008-09.

Meanwhile, property crime in Birmingham jumped by 37 incidents in 2011, with the biggest increase seen in larceny and other thefts. There were 344 larceny or theft incidents reported in 2011, the most the city's seen in the past four years.

However, according to Birmingham Police Cmdr. Terry Kiernan, crime in Birmingham remains at the same level it's been for many years and the numbers are nothing to worry about.

"If you compare 2011 to 2010, and if you compare them to 2009, they're all right about the same average," Kiernan said. "Every year you go up a little, you go down a little."

The time to pay attention for police and residents, Kiernan said, is if you see an unusual spike in crime or a certain type of crime.

"If you all the sudden have 13 homicides and you haven't had any in a few years, then you have a problem," Kiernan said.

"If there was a spike in any type of crime in this city, we would hear about it from a lot of people," he added.

Data courtesy of www.fbi.gov.

See how Birmingham stacks up to other cities by checking out the FBI's Crime in the United States report for surrounding cities.