FBI Crime Report 2020: See Trends In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Violent crime went down last year in Fairfield, while property crime saw an uptick, according to data released by the FBI in its 2020 uniform crime report.

The FBI has issued a word of caution about the crime data coming in at the local levels, however.

Lists comparing cities and counties "provide no insight into the numerous variables that shape crime in a given state, county, city, town, tribal area or region," the FBI said in a statement

“Consequently, they lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting communities and their residents,” the statement continued. “Valid assessments are possible only with careful study and analysis of the range of unique conditions affecting each local law enforcement jurisdiction.”

The data shows that in Fairfield, violent crime dropped, from 32 incidents reported in 2019 to 26 reported in 2020. There were half as many robberies reported in 2020, down to seven compared to 14 the year before.

Property crime, however, saw a different trend during the same period. The number of Fairfield property crimes reported increased from 942 in 2019 to 1,179 in 2020, according to the data. Year-over-year, larcenies increased from 792 to 952, burglaries increased from 96 to 112, and vehicle thefts more than doubled, going from 54 to 115.

Thefts from and of vehicles have continued to be an issue in 2021, with Fairfield police recently urging residents to lock their cars around the same time that four vehicles were reported stolen in one day last month.

Vehicle thefts were also discussed at a Fairfield forum on juvenile crime in September.

At the event, state's attorney Joe Corradino explained that cars stolen from towns like Fairfield are often used for drive-by shootings in gang wars that are underway in cities. Other thefts have been orchestrated by adult-led crime rings, which profit from national and international sales of the cars, making use of juveniles in the pipeline.

Nationwide, crime trends differed from those in Fairfield. The FBI reported an increase in violent crime for the first time in four years. The number of property crimes reported nationally dropped for the 18th year in a row.

Violent crime was up 5.2 percent in 2020 from the 2019 number, the FBI said in a news release. Violent crimes are labeled as homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property crimes are listed as arson, burglary, larceny theft and motor vehicle theft.

Among violent crimes, murder and non-negligent manslaughter reports saw the sharpest one-year uptick from 2019 to 2020, at 29.4 percent, the FBI said.

Property crimes — including burglaries, vehicle thefts and arson — dropped 8.1 percent from 2019 to 2020, the FBI data shows.