Serious Crime in Piedmont: A Mid-Year Report

Serious crime in Piedmont decreased by 3 percent during the first six months of 2012 as compared to the same period last year, Interim Police Chief Scott Wyatt says in a mid-year report that will be presented to the Piedmont City Council tonight.

Burglaries, though are up by 22 percent for the first half of 2012 as compared to figures for January through June of 2011. Burglaries hit their peak this year in January, with 18 reported incidents. The lowest number for the first half of 2012 came in April, with four reported burglaries.

A crime map that accompanies the report shows 2012 burglaries were concentrated near Grand Avenue and Park Boulevard. A cluster of thefts shows up near Piedmont High School, with another cluster — plus several cases of vandalism — near San Carlos Avenue.

Most residential burglaries occurred during the daytime while residents were at work, Wyatt says in his report.

Oakland, Berkeley and Albany have also recorded significant increases in home burglaries this year, he says.

"The California Police Chiefs Association is reporting that these increases may be partially attributable to the CDCR Realignment process, wherein so-called 'lower level' criminals are returned to local jurisdictions for incarceration and/or post-release monitoring," he says.

Robberies decreased from three in the first half of 2011 to two — both home invasions — in the comparable six months of 2012, the report says.

"Home invasion robberies are of great concern to the Piedmont Police Department because of the higher potential for violence when confronting victims in their homes," Wyatt says.

"Evidence indicates that one of these crimes may have been a case of mistaken location by the criminals. In the other case, indications are that the family may not have been randomly victimized."

The city council meets in public session today at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 120 Vista Ave.

Wyatt's report and several accompanying charts and a map, are attached above, along with the full agenda for tonight's meeting. Additional staff reports on agenda items are available at the City of Piedmont website. The meeting will be shown on KCOM-TV, cable channel 27, and on live-streaming video.

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