Statistics released Thursday morning shows overall crime for 2021 in Lincoln fell by 6.2 percent compared to 2020 and 3.3 percent compared to the five year average between 2016 and 2020.
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Police Chief Teresa Ewins unveiled the crime statistics at a news conference. Ewins says violent crime, murder, aggravated assault, rape, and robbery, decreased 15.3% compared to 2020 and 1.1% compared to the five-year average.
Ewins says the number of crimes per 100,000 in population was 3,155 in 2021, the lowest rate from 2016 through 2021. “When we look at 34 U.S. cities of similar size, Lincoln has the 12th lowest rate of crimes per 100,000 in population,” Ewins said. “Lincoln remains a safe community thanks to the hard work and commitment of our public safety professionals and the involvement and support of our businesses, neighborhoods, and residents.”
Ewins says reports of sexual assault and rape decreased 15.6% in 2021, catalytic converter thefts were up from 274 in 2020 to 978 in 2021, an increase of 257%. Auto thefts were up 63% in 2021 compared to the five-year average. Residential burglaries were down 24% in 2021 compared to the five-year average and commercial burglaries were down 6% compared to the five-year average.
More information on LPD is available at police.lincoln.ne.gov.