Port Washington Crimes Tick Up In 2018 Amid Nationwide Decrease

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — There were six violent crimes in Port Washington last year, up from five the previous year according to new FBI data released Monday. The slight increase locally comes amid a nationwide decrease in violent crimes, including in New York state, which saw 68,495 violent crimes in 2018, down more than 3 percent from the previous year.

In Port Washington, there was one rape, two robberies and three aggravated assaults in 2018, all deemed violent crimes.

But perhaps more interestingly, the number of property crimes nearly doubled year over year, from 99 to 188. Larceny thefts specifically drove the increase at 170 — 88 more than 2017.

The FBI also reported one arson in 2018, eight motor vehicle thefts and 10 burglaries.

The increase in crimes comes as the population remained relatively the same, growing just 0.9 percent.

Crimes Fall Nationwide

Across the country, there were fewer violent and property crimes in 2018 than there were a year earlier, FBI data showed. Violent crimes fell 3 percent to about 1.25 million, the second straight year violent crimes had fallen.

The violent crime rate fell from 394.9 per 100,000 residents to 380.6 per 100,000 residents.

Moreover, property crimes dropped 6.3 percent, the 16th straight year that the number of such crimes had fallen.

Crimes Fall In New York

In New York, the violent crimes fell year-over-year from 70,746 in 2017 to 68,495 last year. However, the state saw more murders and rapes in that period.

Furthermore, property crimes across the state fell 4 percent to 281,507.