Burglary, larceny fuel 20% GNV crime increase 

Gainesville Police Department building
Gainesville Police Department building
File photo by Seth Johnson

The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) recently said crime rose 20% for the second quarter of 2023, April through June, compared to the same time period last year. The information was shared with the Gainesville City Commission on Thursday.  

Property crimes (burglary, larceny and auto theft) fueled the surge with a 24% increase while violent crime saw a 2% elevation, driven exclusively by a 17% jump in aggravated assault.  

Comparing the entire first half of 2022 to 2023, gun statistics showed decreases and increases. The number of shots fired lowered from 74 to 64 but the number of persons shot or injured by guns increased from 12 to 24 (including four and two self-inflicted incidents respectively). 

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Homicides increased from three persons to five, and suicides decreased from 11 persons to seven.  

For traffic deaths, this year is on track to come in just under the previous two years. There have been 11 traffic homicide investigations so far in 2023 compared with 23 and 24 investigations total in 2021 and 2022.  

Gainesville’s co-responder program saw few calls for service in the second quarter of the year—869 compared with 949—but more contacts with 373 compared with 355.  

From April through June, the four co-responder teams report 39 voluntary transports, 37 Baker or Marchman acts, 63 Baker Act diversions and 22 jail diversions.  

Gainesville continues to address gun violence, holding a summit on the issue in early August. Gun violence also factored into a vote later in Thursday’s meeting to reinstate the city’s open container ordinance. That vote will need to be finalized in September.  

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Mike

It would be very interesting to know how much of the increase in these crimes is being done by first time offenders compared to repeat offenders.

And how long did the repeat offenders serve for their crimes?

And when they were last released – how much time passed before they were caught committing crimes again?

Are the repeat offenders making crime their career?

George

It would also be interesting to know how many shootings occurred in the downtown or campus (University Dr) area that could be related to the current open container ordinance. Personally, I think few.