Hillsborough Crime Falls 53.2 Percent Since 2007

Crime is down 53.2 percent countywide since 2007, according to a report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Crime in 2012 fell 7.2 percent from the year before, with the rate for violent crime alone the lowest on record since recording started in 1985, according to the report.

"With a population in unincorporated Hillsborough County of 848,660 residents, the number of victims of crimes was also reduced from 21,617 in 2011 to 20,072 in the year 2012,” the sheriff's office notes. “That equals 23.6 victims of crime per 1,000 residents, down from 25.9 the year before.”

Some other interesting facts released in the sheriff’s office report include:

• There are 1.5 deputies per 1,000 residents in Hillsborough County.
• The national average of deputies to people is 2.5 per 1,000.

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Why Crime Is Down In Hillsborough County

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, crime is down countywide because of:

• The "dedication, commitment and the efforts of our community
  partners, such as Neighborhood Watch, Business Watch, Crime Stoppers and Citizen Patrol." The report adds: "Your eyes and ears let us know about suspicious activity and persons. You reacted, and we acted. But we also redefined how we battle crime, from being less reactive to being more proactive."

• The institution in 2009 of Intelligence-Led Policing, a model focused on
  the small percentage of people who commit crimes and "on developing tactical methods to monitor, catch and jail them." As the report notes: "It is working!"

• The strategic Law enforcement Intelligence Nexus Center (LINC). Through this "hub" sheriff's "detectives and crime analysts sift through criminal intelligence, and then relay information to supervisors who craft decisions based on the best use of resources [as they] devise plans of action to keep our communities safe."

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Want to keep up with crimes reported in the Greater Brandon area?

• Visit the sheriff’s office online to search for crimes in the neighborhood. Once you get on the page, select the "crime mapping tool." From there you can zero in on crime in the Brandon area by selecting "place" and choosing "Brandon." You can also take a look at the calls for service in other parts of the county, including Bloomingdale, Carrollwood, Northdale and Lake Magdalene. Keep in mind the information provided pertains to calls for service. That means crimes listed may or may not be founded.

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How do you think the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is doing keeping crime down in your hometown? Let us know in the comment box below.

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