Robberies Stand Out in October Crime Report

A sparked particular concern for Piedmont Police in October, when the number of major crimes recorded, 23, was otherwise on par with the monthly average for 2011 so far. 

Before three women were robbed while walking in Piedmont in separate incidents over a period of 10 days last month, the city had not recorded any robberies since March. The total count for the year is now 6, exceeding 2010's total and nearing the total for 2009, when the city tallied 7 robberies.  

Piedmont recorded 8 burglaries in October, maintaining the average of 7.5 burglaries a month this year. Police had been hopeful that adding an additional officer to daytime patrols would stop the trend, but burglaries in 2011 are now double the number recorded in the first 10 months of 2010 and 2009. 

After a lull in September, larcenies were back up to 10, the exact same number recorded during October in the past two years.  

Two vehicles were reported stolen in October, compared to an average of about 3 in the first nine months of 2011, not far off from the numbers recorded monthly in recent years.  

Meanwhile, homicide, rape, and arson have not registered at all this year—those crimes are perennially rare in Piedmont.