Maine crime rate sees biggest drop in 20 years

AUGUSTA, Maine - Crime in Maine decreased 9.1 percent 2013, the largest drop in 20 years, according to the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Public Safety Commissioner John E. Morris said every crime category went down last year, except for aggravated assaults. Morris said the overall crime decrease was the largest since 1993, when crime dropped 9.4 percent year.

The figures were released on Tuesday in a press release from Maine Public Safety Spokesman Stephen McCausland.

“Maine continues to be one of the safest states in the country and last year was the safest in Maine in two decades. The crime decrease is great news for the short term, and we will continue our efforts on the law enforcement side. The public can also help by being watchful of potential crime and reporting it. The first five months of 2014 are showing signs of a significant increase in drug activity being credited to an influx of out of state drug dealers setting up shop in Maine,” Morris said.

Aggravated assaults, meanwhile, which involve serious injury or usually involves use or threatened use of a  weapon, showed a significant increase of 17.4 percent for 2013 (943 reported in 2013 vs. 803 reported in 2012).  2012 aggravated assaults had a decrease reported of -5 percent. Simple assaults decreased in 2013 by 9 percent (10,739 reported for 2013 vs 11,796 reported for 2012). 

Every other crime category showed decreases with the largest drops in arson and robbery. Arson decreased 38.1 percent during 2013, (140 incidents reported in 2013 vs 226 were reported for 2012). The value of property damaged by arson fires decreased 22% for 2013 ($3,104,919 vs $3,980,230 reported in 2012).

There were a total of 335 robberies in 2013 compared to 421 robberies in 2012, a drop of 20.4%.  .

 Domestic violence assaults showed a decrease of -1.9 percent (5,487 reported in 2013 vs 5,593 reported in 2012). Domestic violence had increased in the two prior years. Morris said the decrease in domestic violence can be attributed to new legislation and more coordination between law enforcement, the courts, prosecutors and domestic violence advocates.

There were 25 homicides in 2013, compared to 26 in 2012.

Crime in the rural areas showed a decrease of 12.8% in 2013, while crime in the cities and towns went down 6.8%. 

In the rural areas, patrolled by State Police and sheriff's departments, crimes went down in every category except rape.  Reported rapes for 2013 in the rural areas increased by 11.8 percent (85 incidents reported for 2013 vs. 76 incidents being reported in 2012). 

Rural robberies show a decrease 19.1, 9 fewer robberies reported in 2013 (38 incidents reported in 2013 vs. 47 reported in 2012). 

 Five Year (2013 – 2009) Maine Crime Summaries