Crime on the Rise in Short Pump: Year Over Year Statistics

Since mid-2010, our readers have contacted us in droves, inquiring as to whether crime is on the increase in the Far West End, especially after covering stories on break-ins, bank robberies and other incidents. Henrico Police recently held a community meeting in Fox Hall to address concerns and answer questions, where they announced that crime had […]

February 3, 2011; 11:05 PM • by Trevor Dickerson

Lieutenant Eric Owens with Henrico Police provided us with crime statistics for instances of breaking and entering in the fall and winter period beginning with 2009 and ending with last week’s most recent data.

From October 2008 through January 2009, 19 breaking and entering incidents were reported, according to Lt. Owens. Over the same period a year later, incidents only rose by one, to 20. But stats for October, 2010 through January 23 of this year show 38 incidents.

Incidences of breaking and entering in Short Pump remain comparatively low to many neighborhoods in the Richmond Metro area, but some speculate that as development in the Far West End continues to mature and the area’s population continues to grow, the criminal activity will do the same.

But these factors, of course, are likely not solely responsible for a year over year 50% spike in criminal activity.

It’s important to note that while breaking and entering cases are up, they don’t necessarily paint the entire picture of the area’s crime trends. But they may be a good indicator of what’s going on.

INTERACT: Do you think crime as a whole is on the increase in the area, or are the string of break-ins as of late an isolated series of events? Sound off in the comments below.