Arlington Heights Crime Rate Hits Historic Low

Information submitted by the village of Arlington Heights.

The Arlington Heights Police Department announced a more than 17 percent drop in its 2013 crime rate compared to the 2012 rate – a new historic low for crime rates in the Village, a press release states.

The 2013 Uniform Crime Rates are a compilation of crime statistics provided by municipalities and compiled annually by the FBI.

Over the past decade the Arlington Heights' overall crime rate has dropped more than 45 percent.

In 2013, nearly 95 percent of cases in Arlington Heights were in the category of Property Crime, which includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of these theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. The other 5 percent of crimes reported last year included murder, criminal sexual assault, aggravated assault/battery and robbery, the press release stated.

The national average for crime rates in municipalities ranging in population from 50,000 – 99,000 was 3,421 per one hundred thousand inhabitants. In comparison, the 2013 crime rate in Arlington Heights was 1,132 per one hundred thousand inhabitants.

Arlington Heights Police Chief Gerald Mourning attributes the crime rate decline to the Police Department’s successful anticipation of the needs of the community and responding to those needs.

“The Arlington Heights Police Department has strong community support from both residents and businesses. We believe in embracing our community as our partner in crime prevention,” Chief Mourning stated. 

Mourning said that crime statistics are analyzed regularly to help pinpoint emerging crime trends that then become a focus for the department in terms of educating the public, crime prevention and Police preparedness.

The Police Department keeps the community informed about crimes reported through its free Citizen Observer program, Crime Stoppers of Arlington Heights, and Public Service Announcements (PSA) regularly shown on the Village’s government access channel.

For the Citizen Observer program, residents can sign up to receive email alerts or text alerts about crimes that have occurred, event alerts, warnings of scams and other public safety tips. Users will also receive a weekly Hot Crimes map that shows the locations of the more serious crimes occurring each week in the Village.

To receive these alerts, visit  Citizen Observer  and click on “Sign Up for Alerts.” Each alert sent by Citizen Observer includes a Crime Stoppers “submit a tip” link which provides a secure two-way communication between the public and local law enforcement. Citizens can also submit tips anonymously by calling the Crime Stoppers at 847-590-STOP (7867).