Oak Park’s crime rate continued to decline in 2015, an overall trend that has been underway with only a few exceptions for several decades, according to data compiled by the Police Department under the state’s Uniform Crime Reporting Index.
Police investigated 1,568 crimes in 2015, down 6 percent from the 1,665 crimes reported in 2014 and far below Oak Park’s crime rates in the 1980s and early 1990s that often were nearly double last year’s rate.
Police Chief Rick C. Tanksley credited the combination of an engaged citizenry and professional, dedicated officers with playing a significant role in the continued decline in the local crime rate.
In addition, he said, the use of crime data analysis to identify and strategically address emerging trends has led to quick Police response times to calls for service and solving crimes at rates above the national average.
Burglaries and thefts continued to represent the vast majority of all crimes committed in Oak Park in 2015. These two categories alone comprised nearly 90 percent of all 2015 crimes, with garages as burglars’ most frequent targets, Police say.
The 65 robberies reported in 2015 — down from the 83 reported in 2014 — were the lowest number of robberies since 1972, the earliest year for which comparable data are available.
Increases occurred in three of the eight crime categories compiled under the standardized reporting index. The 21 assault/battery reports in 2015 compared to 15 in 2014; six criminal sexual assaults in 2015 compared to five in 2014; and 92 motor vehicle thefts in 2015 compared to 75 in 2014.
Mini vans have become an increasingly favorite target of car thieves over the past few years, police say.
Police made 164 arrests in 2015 compared to 155 in 2014. Nearly 80 percent of the arrests were for burglaries and thefts.
Battling the perception of crime even as the rate declines is among the biggest challenges police face, according to Chief Tanksley. He said that’s why the Oak Park Police Department continually strives to help residents feel safe by providing them the information they need to play a vital role in local crime-fighting initiatives.
For more information on Oak Park’s community policing programs, visit www.oak-park.us/police.
![Graphic depicting crime date for 2015 that links to a text summary](/sites/default/files/newsletters/photos/2015-crime-rate-graphic.jpg)